High school senior loses golf title after reporting her own scoring mistake

This is a whole other level of honesty.

A high school golfer in South Dakota took honesty to a whole new level when she self-reported a mistake on her scorecard, costing her the state championship.

Senior Kate Wynja won the championship by several stokes, but incorrectly listed her score on the 18th hole as a 4, instead of a 5. The mistake didn’t make a difference; she would have won either way. Reporting her scoring error would disqualify her, but she knew it was the right thing to do, telling the Argus Herald.

“I knew I needed to tell them,” Wynja said Tuesday night. “It was really sad, mostly because I knew what the result would be. I knew that I would be disqualified and it broke my heart for the team. But I knew I couldn’t leave without saying something.”

Not only did Wynja lose the championship for herself, but the mistake caused her Sioux Falls Christian team to finish second. The golfer who went on to win the championship wasn’t happy about the incident either.

“I was heartbroken,” said Birkeland, who broke down in tears when she learned Wynja had been disqualified. “You don’t wish that one anyone, so hats off to her for being able to admit her mistake ... That’s not how you want to win, but it’s humbling for everyone to learn from that situation.”

Wynjia’s act is being applauded on social media by other golfers and friends who want the world to know how gracious she was during a difficult time. The senior is taking it all in stride, and was reportedly “back to her bubbly self” by the time the trophy ceremony occurred.