Bob CollinsKaylee Gossen, a junior from Marshall, Minn., could’ve just kept quiet and she’d be on her way to the state high school golf tournament.
But that’s not the way it works for high school golfers.
The Star Tribune reports that Gossen’s 82 last week at the Class 2A, Section 3 tournament in Buffalo Lake made her a lock as an individual entrant in the tournament and also might’ve sent her whole team there.
Then she started thinking about the double-bogey on the 16th hole, which she and her playing partners from other high schools agreed at the time was correct.
After the round, she compared what her scorecard showed with what her parents had recorded. 83.
The only hole on which they disagreed? Number 16, the Strib says.
When Kaylee thought back and went over the hole shot by shot, she realized, as she grew mad at herself, that they were right.
“I wasn’t feeling good about it,’’ Gossen said.
She talked to Flynn, and together they consulted with tournament officials. A call was made to the Minnesota State High School League.
“They came back and said make sure it’s right,’’ Gossen said. “I told them I’m sure it’s supposed to be a seven.’’
With that, she was disqualified. Her team, within a few strokes of a team qualifying spot, fell further back without Gossen’s score.
“I realized I needed to do the right thing, losing my shot at going to state,’’ Gossen said. “I knew walking in there — I started tearing up. I knew I was going to be disqualified, but it was the right thing to do.’’
“Integrity goes a lot (further) than state,’’ she said. “State is a great experience, but I’d rather be known for something much more.’’
Kids, today, eh?
(h/t: Paul Tosto)
