NAIA golfer misses shot on purpose, allowing rival into national tourney

Young Drachma · 05-06-2010, 02:53 PM

Grant Whybark loses hole on purpose, lets foe Seth Doran into finals - ESPN Chicago

Quote:

University of St. Francis (Ill.) golfer Grant Whybark has become a national name in light of his decision to intentionally lose a playoff for his conference tournament's individual title and allow an opponent to advance to the national finals.

Whybark, who had already qualified for the NAIA national championship by virtue of his team's victory in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament on April 27, made a double-bogey on the first playoff hole to allow Seth Doran of Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) University to qualify as an individual.
The national title tournament is May 18-21 at TPC at Deere Park in Silvis, Ill., site of the PGA Tour's John Deere Classic.

Whybark, who was told that the overall individual winner earned a spot in nationals before the playoff with Doran began, hit his tee shot out of bounds on the first playoff hole at Heritage Bluffs Public Golf Club. Doran made par to advance.
St. Francis advanced as a team to nationals for the second straight year.
"We all know Seth very well," Whybark said, according to GolfWeek, "and he not only is a very good player, but a great person as well. He's a senior and had never been to nationals. Somehow, it just wasn't in my heart to try to knock him out."

"I think some people were surprised," Whybark said, according to GolfWeek, "but my team knew what I was doing and were supportive of me. I felt Seth deserved to go [to nationals] just as much as I did.

"It was one of those things where I couldn't feel good taking something from him like this. My goal from the start was to get [to nationals] with my team. I had already done that."

The decision prompted plenty of debate on the "Mike & Mike in the Morning" program on ESPN Radio, as well as on a variety of Internet sites. Some believe Whybark's decision was an act of sportsmanship; others believe getting into the national championship tournament because an opponent deliberately lost a match was the wrong way to advance.

So did he do the "right thing?"

Ronnie Dobbs2 · 05-06-2010, 02:54 PM

Did Doran getting to go to the tournament mean some other person didn't?

Young Drachma · 05-06-2010, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronnie Dobbs2

Did Doran getting to go to the tournament mean some other person didn't?

No. It was Doran or no one else.

RainMaker · 05-06-2010, 02:57 PM

I don't see a problem with it. Didn't really harm anyone.

I don't think he's as chivalrous as they are making it out to be. If he was, he would have hit it in the woods and shut his mouth. Why make the other guy think you did it on purpose and feel crappy about that?

Ronnie Dobbs2 · 05-06-2010, 02:58 PM

Doesn't bother me, then. Maybe it bothers Doran, but I imagine going to the tournament is enough of a thrill to get over it.

DanGarion · 05-06-2010, 02:59 PM

Why wouldn't he have been in if he didn't win, wouldn't that have advanced him since the winner was already in?

Ksyrup · 05-06-2010, 02:59 PM

What would Herm Edwards do?

larrymcg421 · 05-06-2010, 03:00 PM

My only problem with this story is that if you're going to do something like this, then perhaps you shouldn't announce it. It feels like he either wanted people to know that the guy didn't really beat him or just let everyone know what a nice guy he was. It would've been a nicer gesture if you at least let the guy think he won legitimately.

Alan T · 05-06-2010, 03:00 PM

I don't think it was good "sportsmanship" as the article claimed some to feel. Not much sporting about it at all. Was it a nice thing to do for the guy? Sure, I guess so. It is the type of thing in Amateur sports that I am totally ok with.

In a professional sport environment, I feel there is no place for tanking on purpose. So in this particular case, since it is NAIA, it doesn't really bother me too much.

larrymcg421 · 05-06-2010, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanGarion

Why wouldn't he have been in if he didn't win, wouldn't that have advanced him since the winner was already in?

It sounds like the cross country rule back when I was in high school. If you were one of the top 5 individual runners at region, then you went to state. If all 5 runners were already going with their teams, then no extra runners would go.

Young Drachma · 05-06-2010, 03:02 PM

I think it was probably super obvious that it happened. I doubt he announced it or declared it, I just figure he was too good a golfer for it not to be obvious what he did. Knowing the institutions involved, they probably believed it was a good act of sportsmanship that ought to be highlighted. The mainstream media, naturally tears into it with the bloodlust of a serial killer and wonders how he could do it?

Young Drachma · 05-06-2010, 03:03 PM

And the quotes in the article indicate that both of them and their coaches are cool with it.

larrymcg421 · 05-06-2010, 03:03 PM

Of course, there's also the possibility that he just screwed up. It makes for a really nice cover story.

Ksyrup · 05-06-2010, 03:04 PM

The only real issue here is whether the guy "earned" his spot and whether you think that matters. And since most people are apparently fine with NFL teams being allowed to make the playoffs on the back of teams essentially forfeiting games of consequence to the playoff race, I don't think most people care whether he's earned the spot, just that he made it.

molson · 05-06-2010, 03:05 PM

Ideally, sports tournament/competition formats should be setup to where this kind of thing isn't possible, or is at least mitigated.

Failing that, I think it's lame to qualify for anything in this manner. Why would you want to be the guy that gets in the nationals this way?

digamma · 05-06-2010, 03:09 PM

Seems like a pretty easy rule change: Top team and top individual qualify, provided however, if the individual champion is on the championship team, the next highest placing individual qualifies.

Young Drachma · 05-06-2010, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by molson

Ideally, sports tournament/competition formats should be setup to where this kind of thing isn't possible, or is at least mitigated.

Failing that, I think it's lame to qualify for anything in this manner. Why would you want to be the guy that gets in the nationals this way?

He didn't ask for it to happen. I think the only thing the original guy did wrong was not making it more convincing a screw up, rather than just double biffing a putt, but maybe it occurred to him at the last minute to do it.

I'm sure the league will change the rule for next season, given all of this national attention. But the thing about sports at the lower levels is that it's just not as competitive. I mean, it matters. The games, the matches and all of it matters to a degree, but...every institution and the players involved don't care that much.

Plus, there's nothing that he could've done about it. The other player chose to do it. I'm sure if anything, it emboldens him to go to nationals and do his best work and prove he belongs there...it's just not a high profile enough level of competition that being bloodthirsty has any merits whatsoever.

And given it was two religious schools involved...I'm guess there was an added level of morality added to it.

molson · 05-06-2010, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dark Cloud

He didn't ask for it to happen. I think the only thing the original guy did wrong was not making it more convincing a screw up, rather than just double biffing a putt, but maybe it occurred to him at the last minute to do it.

I'm sure the league will change the rule for next season, given all of this national attention. But the thing about sports at the lower levels is that it's just not as competitive. I mean, it matters. The games, the matches and all of it matters to a degree, but...every institution and the players involved don't care that much.

Plus, there's nothing that he could've done about it. The other player chose to do it. I'm sure if anything, it emboldens him to go to nationals and do his best work and prove he belongs there...it's just not a high profile enough level of competition that being bloodthirsty has any merits whatsoever.

And given it was two Catholic schools involved...I'm guess there was an added level of morality added to it.

Right, the other person chose to do it, so his "gift" might actually have been a burden, depending on the personality of the benefactor.

RainMaker · 05-06-2010, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by molson

Failing that, I think it's lame to qualify for anything in this manner. Why would you want to be the guy that gets in the nationals this way?

Because it's NAIA golf. Probably less about the competition at Nationals and more about spending a nice weekend playing golf and getting drunk with some friends.

larrymcg421 · 05-06-2010, 03:16 PM

I think there's a decent reason for the rule, though. They probably don't want to send an extra individual for every region in the country, just for the special circumstances where the region champion won't be going.

For instance, what if the top 5 people were on teams already advancing. Do you really need to send the 6th place person?

digamma · 05-06-2010, 03:21 PM

I would think the conferences/regions would want to send the extra person to give an extra chance to bringing home an individual winner.

larrymcg421 · 05-06-2010, 03:22 PM

Perhaps, but I'm thinking there might be financial reasons.

Young Drachma · 05-06-2010, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by larrymcg421

Perhaps, but I'm thinking there might be financial reasons.

No, not really. It's just probably never occurred to anybody that this might happen. The costs are negligible and NAIA schools -- unlike NCAA D3 -- give scholarships, so...the financial costs wouldn't be prohibitive enough to keep a kid out of a postseason activity. It's just good for the league when it happens and like I said, I can't see how they won't fix the rule next year. It was just likely an oversight on their part.

JonInMiddleGA · 05-06-2010, 03:39 PM

And if he happens to get on a hot streak & win it, then every player in the tournament was screwed by the unethical actions of this one doofus.

chesapeake · 05-06-2010, 03:40 PM

Given that no one was excluded from advancing, this isn't that big of a deal.

That said, I think Whybark's pursuit of plaudits as a result of this action -- basically telling everyone that he was going to be a swell guy and do it -- mitigates about 90% of whatever good karma he might otherwise have earned if he had "flubbed" a putt and kept his mouth shut.

I'd be pretty pissed if I were Doran. He was denied the right to earn his spot -- despite playing well -- by some dope that thought he needed the charity. No one is asking him how great it feels to win the tournament and make nationals; everyone is asking about how he feels that the other guy threw the match. That would suck.

Logan · 05-06-2010, 03:42 PM

Am I missing where it says in the article that the (fake) winner would have automatically lost had this playoff hole been played legitimately?

05-06-2010, 02:54 PM	#2
Ronnie Dobbs2 Pro Rookie Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Bahston Mass	Did Doran getting to go to the tournament mean some other person didn't? __________________ There's no I in Teamocil, at least not where you'd think

05-06-2010, 02:57 PM	#4
RainMaker Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chicago, IL	I don't see a problem with it. Didn't really harm anyone. I don't think he's as chivalrous as they are making it out to be. If he was, he would have hit it in the woods and shut his mouth. Why make the other guy think you did it on purpose and feel crappy about that? Last edited by RainMaker : 05-06-2010 at 02:59 PM.

05-06-2010, 02:58 PM	#5
Ronnie Dobbs2 Pro Rookie Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Bahston Mass	Doesn't bother me, then. Maybe it bothers Doran, but I imagine going to the tournament is enough of a thrill to get over it. __________________ There's no I in Teamocil, at least not where you'd think

05-06-2010, 02:59 PM	#6
DanGarion Coordinator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The Great Northwest	Why wouldn't he have been in if he didn't win, wouldn't that have advanced him since the winner was already in? __________________ Los Angeles Dodgers Check out the FOFC Groups on Facebook! and Reddit! DON'T REPORT ME BRO!

05-06-2010, 02:59 PM	#7
Ksyrup This guy has posted so much, his fingers are about to fall off. Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: In Absentia	What would Herm Edwards do? __________________ M's pitcher Miguel Batista: "Now, I feel like I've had everything. I've talked pitching with Sandy Koufax, had Kenny G play for me. Maybe if I could have an interview with God, then I'd be served. I'd be complete."

05-06-2010, 03:00 PM	#8
larrymcg421 Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Georgia	My only problem with this story is that if you're going to do something like this, then perhaps you shouldn't announce it. It feels like he either wanted people to know that the guy didn't really beat him or just let everyone know what a nice guy he was. It would've been a nicer gesture if you at least let the guy think he won legitimately. __________________ Top 10 Songs of the Year 1955-Present (1976 Added) Franchise Portfolio Draft Winner Fictional Character Draft Winner Television Family Draft Winner Build Your Own Hollywood Studio Draft Winner

05-06-2010, 03:00 PM	#9
Alan T Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mass.	I don't think it was good "sportsmanship" as the article claimed some to feel. Not much sporting about it at all. Was it a nice thing to do for the guy? Sure, I guess so. It is the type of thing in Amateur sports that I am totally ok with. In a professional sport environment, I feel there is no place for tanking on purpose. So in this particular case, since it is NAIA, it doesn't really bother me too much. __________________ Couch to ??k - From the couch to a Marathon in roughly 18 months.

05-06-2010, 03:02 PM	#11
Young Drachma Dark Cloud Join Date: Apr 2001	I think it was probably super obvious that it happened. I doubt he announced it or declared it, I just figure he was too good a golfer for it not to be obvious what he did. Knowing the institutions involved, they probably believed it was a good act of sportsmanship that ought to be highlighted. The mainstream media, naturally tears into it with the bloodlust of a serial killer and wonders how he could do it? __________________ Current dynasty: OOTP25 Blitz: RTS meets Moneyball \| OOTP Mod: GM Excel Competitive Balance Tax/Revenue Sharing Calc \| FBCB Mods on Github

05-06-2010, 03:03 PM	#12
Young Drachma Dark Cloud Join Date: Apr 2001	And the quotes in the article indicate that both of them and their coaches are cool with it.

05-06-2010, 03:04 PM	#14
Ksyrup This guy has posted so much, his fingers are about to fall off. Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: In Absentia	The only real issue here is whether the guy "earned" his spot and whether you think that matters. And since most people are apparently fine with NFL teams being allowed to make the playoffs on the back of teams essentially forfeiting games of consequence to the playoff race, I don't think most people care whether he's earned the spot, just that he made it. __________________ M's pitcher Miguel Batista: "Now, I feel like I've had everything. I've talked pitching with Sandy Koufax, had Kenny G play for me. Maybe if I could have an interview with God, then I'd be served. I'd be complete."

05-06-2010, 03:05 PM	#15
molson General Manager Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: The Mountains	Ideally, sports tournament/competition formats should be setup to where this kind of thing isn't possible, or is at least mitigated. Failing that, I think it's lame to qualify for anything in this manner. Why would you want to be the guy that gets in the nationals this way?

05-06-2010, 03:09 PM	#16
digamma Torchbearer Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: On Lake Harriet	Seems like a pretty easy rule change: Top team and top individual qualify, provided however, if the individual champion is on the championship team, the next highest placing individual qualifies.

05-06-2010, 03:16 PM	#20
larrymcg421 Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Georgia	I think there's a decent reason for the rule, though. They probably don't want to send an extra individual for every region in the country, just for the special circumstances where the region champion won't be going. For instance, what if the top 5 people were on teams already advancing. Do you really need to send the 6th place person? __________________ Top 10 Songs of the Year 1955-Present (1976 Added) Franchise Portfolio Draft Winner Fictional Character Draft Winner Television Family Draft Winner Build Your Own Hollywood Studio Draft Winner

05-06-2010, 03:21 PM	#21
digamma Torchbearer Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: On Lake Harriet	I would think the conferences/regions would want to send the extra person to give an extra chance to bringing home an individual winner.

05-06-2010, 03:22 PM	#22
larrymcg421 Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Georgia	Perhaps, but I'm thinking there might be financial reasons. __________________ Top 10 Songs of the Year 1955-Present (1976 Added) Franchise Portfolio Draft Winner Fictional Character Draft Winner Television Family Draft Winner Build Your Own Hollywood Studio Draft Winner

05-06-2010, 03:39 PM	#24
JonInMiddleGA Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Behind Enemy Lines in Athens, GA	And if he happens to get on a hot streak & win it, then every player in the tournament was screwed by the unethical actions of this one doofus. __________________ "I lit another cigarette. Unless I specifically inform you to the contrary, I am always lighting another cigarette." - from a novel by Martin Amis

05-06-2010, 03:40 PM	#25
chesapeake College Starter Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Arlington, VA	Given that no one was excluded from advancing, this isn't that big of a deal. That said, I think Whybark's pursuit of plaudits as a result of this action -- basically telling everyone that he was going to be a swell guy and do it -- mitigates about 90% of whatever good karma he might otherwise have earned if he had "flubbed" a putt and kept his mouth shut. I'd be pretty pissed if I were Doran. He was denied the right to earn his spot -- despite playing well -- by some dope that thought he needed the charity. No one is asking him how great it feels to win the tournament and make nationals; everyone is asking about how he feels that the other guy threw the match. That would suck.

05-06-2010, 03:42 PM	#26
Logan Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: NYC	Am I missing where it says in the article that the (fake) winner would have automatically lost had this playoff hole been played legitimately?

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