Justin Doeden, the former University of Minnesota star who played what might have been the best tournament of his professional career six weeks ago, while winning the Tapemark Minnesota PGA Charity Pro-Am, admitted Monday on Twitter that he cheated in a PGA Tour Canada event last week.
After making a double bogey 7 on the 18th hole in the second round of the Commissionaires Ottowa Open, Doeden went to the scorer's tent. He signed his card, which had the 7 on it, but then asked for his scorecard to check it again as his two fellow competitors left the area. Doeden, who shot 68 in the first round, would have shot 73 with the 7 and missed the 36-hole cut by a single stroke, with 141. But when his score went up on the board, it showed a 5 on No. 18. When his scorecard was examined later, it was clear that the 7 had been erased and replaced with a 5 on the 18th hole, thereby giving him a two-day score of 68-71--139.
The two playing partners noticed the discrepancy, reported it immediately, and an investigation was begun. Doeden withdrew from the tournament and did not comment on the incident over the weekend. But on Monday, he wrote on Twitter:
"I am here to confess of the biggest mistake I have made in my life to date. I cheated in golf. This is not who I am. I let my sponsors down. I let my competitors down. I let my family down. I let myself down. I pray for your forgiveness. John 1:9."
Doeden played on the PGA Tour LatinoAmerica ealier this year, made $34,457 iin 12 events and was No. 18 on the money list when the tour concluded in May.
A week after it wrapped up, he played in the Tapemark at Southview CC in West St. Paul and set the tournament record for 36 holes by shooting 65-62--127. The final round was cancelled because of heavy rains during the second round -- after Doeden had finished. In the absence of a third round, he was declared the winner, by two shots over Van Holmgren, and he received $5,500 for the victory.
Since then, he has played in three events on the PGA Tour Canada, missing cuts in the first two -- and then last week.