Have you ever witnessed an injustice that weighed on your heart through the years? One Roundup Record reader sent us the following handwritten letter to set the record straight on an injustice that left him feeling regret. We hope that the girls who earned this victory are able to find this letter all these years later, and find some satisfaction that their win was at least recognized by one honest man.-Lura Pitman
10-24-24
“I would like to thank Steve and the Roundup Record Tribune for the opportunity to tell the story why Roundup’s girl golf team should have been awarded the first class B High School golf chamionship trophy instead of the 2nd place trophy.
My name is Rob Kenny. I finished my six years as a secondary school teacher at Roundup High School from 1977 thru 1983. Roundup has the distinction of three girls winning an all class state High School Golf Championship in 1974. Carolyn Ask, Patty Elich, and Chris Wall achieved a never to be repeated championship since. In 1983 there were enough smaller schools with golf as a sport to divide the golf teams by AA, A, B, C classification. I took Sally Jens, Amy Devine, and Kris Edwards to Big Timber to participate in our Class B state golf tournament.
The first day of the two day tournament, three girls were nearly in tears, complaining that the girl from Shelby was not keeping an honest score. The rules of golf are very clear. Anyone not keeping an accurate and honest score must be disqualified. The Shelby girl had a compelling motive for cheating. Her parents would give her a car if she won the tournament. The coaches gathered together to decide what should be done. Instead of following the rule of golf, the Shelby coach convinced the coaches to disregard what the three girls had proclaimed was a fact. I regret all the coaches were complicit in allowing the Shelby girl to play the next day, and win medalist honors as well as Shelby’s team capturing the 1st Class B girls golf championships 1983.
I would like to see Roundup honor these two girls golf teams as they have for the two boys football State Championship. I regret all these years for not standing up for those girls who were denied a championship. All the coaches ignored the explicit rule of golf to avoid an embarrasment to the Shelby High School, the Shelby coach, the Shelby community, and the Grinde family, the girls parents who owned the car dealership in Shelby.
Golf is much like life. If you participate in the game, as is in life, you must play by the rules. Amen. Thank you again Steve. Best wishes, Rob Kenny PS I apologize for the long delay and all my cross-outs. I hope you can publish this account not only for these fine students of the game, but for the wonderful people in Roundup!”
Reader Comments(0)