CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — The top golfer at the University of St. Francis in Illinois says he intentionally botched a shot at a recent tournament to let his friend join him in the NAIA nationals.
Grant Whybark hit his tee shot out of bounds on the first playoff hole at the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference championship last month. He finished with a double bogey while Seth Doran of Olivet Nazarene made par.
The win meant Doran could go to the NAIA tournament along with Whybark, who had qualified earlier along with the rest of his team.
Whybark said Thursday the decision wasn’t a big deal because Doran is a friend who deserved to go. Doran says he’s amused some critics have said they’d be embarrassed to go to the national championship courtesy of a buddy’s gift.
