USA Today: Kentucky girl loses state golf title after admitting scorecard error
Emma Talley wants people to know that she didn't try to cheat. In fact, she'd probably be a two-time state golf champion right now if she didn't turn herself in for a scorecard mistake.
Talley, a sophomore at Caldwell County High School, was in line to win her second straight Leachman Buick & GMC/KHSAA State Golf Championship on Sunday at Bowling Green Country Club. After shooting a 1-under-par 71 on Saturday, she finished Sunday's final round with a 73. The 144 total was five shots better than her nearest competitor, Sacred Heart's Lindsay Gahm.
But when her round was complete and her score had been posted, Talley's father, Dan, had a feeling something was wrong.
"He just asked me, 'Are you sure about everything?'" Talley said Monday afternoon. "I thought back … and right there and then I knew what I had to do. I had to disqualify myself, unfortunately."
Turns out Talley had signed an incorrect scorecard, which by rule would mean an automatic disqualification if caught by a rules official. Instead of recording a bogey-6 on the par-5 No. 18 hole, Talley and her playing partner both recorded a par-5. Talley then signed a scorecard that read 72 instead of 73.
"I just got caught up in the moment and wrote down the wrong score," Talley said.
The disqualification meant Gahm was declared the state champion. It also earned Talley a measure of respect from many who attended the event. ...
She may have lost at golf but she is winning at so much more.
