'Controversial Golf Rule'... 'Uriel's Honest Disqualification'

LPGA Tour Q-School Round 2 Scorecard Arrival

She was tripped up by an incorrect scorecard.

Alana Uriel [Photo by LPGA Official Website]

It was a mistake by Alana Uriel (USA). It happened at the LPGA Tour Qualifying School, known as the "Suneung Exam" of women's golf, last December. Uriel wrote an incorrect score during the second round of Q-School held at Magnolia Grove Golf Course in Mobile, Alabama. She recorded a par on a hole where she actually made a bogey. After submitting the scorecard, Uriel realized the error and voluntarily reported it to the tournament committee.

Applying golf rule 3.3b, she was disqualified. According to the stroke play scoring method, players must carefully review the hole scores recorded by their marker, confirm and sign the scorecard before submitting it. Mistakes caused by the player failing to properly check the scorecard result in disqualification. If the submitted scorecard shows a higher score than the actual score, there is no penalty other than the player losing a stroke. However, if the score is recorded lower than the actual score, disqualification follows.

At the time, Uriel had shot an even-par 72 in the first round and a 4-under-par 68 in the second round, placing her tied for 18th (4-under 140). The LPGA Tour Q-School first selects 70 players after four rounds. Then, after another four rounds in the second stage, the top 20 receive full tour cards, and up to 45 players receive conditional status.

Uriel debuted on the LPGA Tour in 2019. She played in 21 events last year but finished 136th on the money list ($66,506), losing her tour card. She aimed to return to the regular tour through Q-School but ended up in tears due to the incorrect scorecard. Local media praised her, saying, "Although Uriel was disqualified, she deserves applause for her honest action."

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