A high-school student in the US has been denied a golfing tournament trophy because she is a girl.

Emily Nash, who beat her nearest competitor by four strokes in the Massachusetts Division 3 golf tournament, found herself deprived of the award because she played in a boy’s competition.

This is in spite of the fact that the Lunenburg High School student played off the same tees as the boys.

According to the Worcester Telegram & Gazette the Lunenburg High student was allowed to compete with the boy’s team, because the school didn’t have a girl’s team.

Because of the result, Nash technically qualified to play in the state high school golf championships, but will not be able to do so; the sporting body running the tournament said that she could proceed with the team, but not on an individual basis.

Nash says while she knew that before starting the round, she wasn’t made aware that she also wouldn’t be allowed to receive the title or trophy.

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“Given this team opportunity during the tournament fall season, it has been clear to participants that female golfers playing in the fall boys team tournament are not playing in an individual capacity,” read a statement from the the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA). 

“We congratulate Lunenberg’s female golfer,” said the statement.

"I was definitely disappointed, but I understand that there are rules in place," Nash told the paper.

"I don't think people expected for this to happen, so they didn't really know how to react to it.”

The slight silver lining of the story, however, is that tournament runner-up, Nico Ciolino, recognised her win and offered Nash the trophy after he was given it.

She declined, saying: “I kind of felt bad for him because I knew he got the trophy, and he felt really awkward about it.”

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Rolling Stone has even reported that the MIAA’s refusal to award Nash the title violates a constitutional amendment.

Under Title IX, there is a federal law in the country that stops educational programs that receive federal funding from discriminating based on sex.

But in spite of the haters, Nash has some all-star support.

“Congrats to Emily Nash on her BIG Win!,” wrote American golfing world-number three Lexi Thompson.

“Keep following your dreams and nothing can stop you!!!”

Images: John Love / iStock / Christine Petersen / sentinelandenterprise.com