Character cost Somerset Golfer a chance at State Tourney but I think the win in life is bigger than any state trophy.

 

Character on the Links: Somerset?s Cam Claunch misses state tourney cut after a self-imposed penalty stroke - Commonwealth Journal: Sports

 

Somerset Golfer Cam Claunch was leaning over to pick up a piece of grass near his ball on the fringe, while leaning on his wedge. The wedge slipped and touched the ball moving it slightly. He made the up and down for par but when he told his playing partner the score, he gave himself a penalty stroke that none of his playing partners had seen. Cam is a Senior and he birdied the next hole then parred out to shoot a 71...a 70 would have qualified him for the state tourney on his last chance to play in it his Senior season.

This guy. I want to shake his hand. I am also disappointed that he did not make State. But his honestly speaks volumes.

The difference between golf and pretty much any other sport.

 

Kudos.

As a former golf coach, this gives me goosebumps.

I don't know the kid, but I like him a lot.

I usually do the same thing 10-12 times a round intentionally, then deny it. Kudos to this kid for being honest.

He'll do well in life. First class all the way.

Wait, would 70 have gotten him in automatically?

 

Because he shot a 71, he missed out (unless he lost in a playoff after shooting 71).

 

I'm ASSUMING had he shot a 70, he STILL would have had to win a playoff to earn a spot.

 

EDIT: Yes, I just re-read the story. Even if he had NOT taken the penalty stroke, he STILL would have had to win a playoff -- he was NOT guaranteed to go to State at 70 -- to get there. Lose the playoff though, and he STILL would have finished in the same place/spot he did even with the penalty-stroke 71 (and still miss State).

 

Bit of a minor issue, but it's not like the penalty-stroke knocked him out of State completely.

 

Not like Emma Talley's wrong scorecard, when she could have added multiple shots to her total and STILL won outright. And his penalty stroke didn't DQ him like Talley's issue DQed her (even though she could have signed a higher score and still won).

Kudos to the young man for following golf rules.

 

As a non-golfer I fully admit I don't get this rule. Just set it back where it was.

Employers in the Somerset area should remember the name, character counts.