Losing on Purpose: compassionate or unsportsmanlike

[CRedskinsRule]

So, in the world of Collegiate golf a player purposely lost a round so that another student could advance. The linked article explains why, and compares the losing player's actions to:

A moment when a girl is brought in on crutches to score a layup to break a record or someone being carried around the field after she twisted her ankle rounding the bases. Opponents coming together to transcend the game.

But this student's motivation was simply that he felt the other student ought to play in the Nationals:

"We all know Seth very well," Whybark explains, "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, 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."

I don't see the two situations as the same, and in fact it undercuts the competitive nature of the sport. I wouldn't be upset at all if the first golfer was barred from going to the nationals with his team for conduct that undermines the game. If the second player was worthy of going to the nationals, then he would have won. I think I would have had a little less problem if the first player won and then asked to be removed, but then he wouldn't have been able to play on the team game either.