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Contreras honored as Heart ‘Champion of Character’

Posted 5/4/22

By all accounts, there was a good chance that CMU sophomore Cassandra Contreras would emerge as the Heart women’s golf champion last week at The Golf Club at Creekmoor in Raymore, Missouri. …

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Contreras honored as Heart ‘Champion of Character’

Posted

By all accounts, there was a good chance that CMU sophomore Cassandra Contreras would emerge as the Heart women’s golf champion last week at The Golf Club at Creekmoor in Raymore, Missouri. Having been the Heart champion last season as a freshman she had also won the Golfer of the Week award four times during the 2021-22 season. She seemed to be primed for a repeat performance.

Because of wet conditions, tournament directors had determined it would be admissible for players to “lift, clean and replace” balls  “in the closely mown areas of the course” which means fairways and fringe areas around the green.

Contreras played her round as normal, but unbeknownst to her, she had picked up her ball in an area of the rough where she wasn't allowed and placed the ball back in the rough to improve her lie on the 17th hole. At that point, Nik Rule, the athletic director at William Penn University, as well as the tournament director, was informed that Contreras had possibly committed an infraction.

Rule contacted CMU head coach Stephen Main and the two approached Contreras after she had completed her round. Realizing her mistake, Contreras was eager to rectify the situation.

“When we approached her, she was so graceful and forthcoming,” said Rule “Not only did she own the infraction, she went hole-by-hole and assessed herself penalties for each time she made the error. I was blown away with the integrity she displayed in a very tough situation, she displayed character and strength in a way that I have never seen before in college athletics.”

After reviewing the entire round with Mains and Rule, it was determined Contreras had inadvertently committed the same violation of picking up her ball in unauthorized areas on several holes throughout her round. The resulting penalties dropped her score to 93 for round one.

“When I was informed of the infraction, I just relied on my morals and knew I had to do the right thing,” said Contreras.

“I easily could have lied about it or said I couldn’t remember. But I took it for what it was, it was a mistake and I just told myself I have to own it.”

Contreras would go on to shoot the third-lowest score (78) of the second round in a field of 56 golfers. She then shot the second-lowest score of round three (79) to finish the tournament, tying for ninth place and earning All-Conference honors.

“In that moment, we saw the purity of Cassandra’s character. She was honest, calm, and had the sole focus of doing the right thing,” said Rule.

“It was a moment I will never forget the rest of my life. She has made a lifelong supporter out of me and others.”

With the three-round total of 250, Contreras finished tied for ninth in the tournament. “After that happened, I tried to stay out of my own head and focus on the next hole and the next shot,” said Contreras. “I have always been raised to never give up and never quit. Things happen and you just have to keep going. My mom and dad definitely instilled in me to stay true to myself and stay true to my character.”

Contreras was recognized as a True Champion of Character at the tournament as well as being named the Heart golfer of the year and being named to the All-Conference team.

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