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Late Disqualification Gives Stark First-Round Win By Default
Carefree, Ariz. – You might notice in the match-play draw sheet that Heidi Stark of Lincoln, Neb., has advanced to the second round by default at the 2007 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur at Desert Forest. This was not the result of an injury, but a disqualification of Tara Joy-Connelly due to the signing of an incorrect scorecard (Rule 6-6 and 34-1b) following the second and final round of stroke-play qualifying.
This decision came about after Jeff Hall, the director of the Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, and Pat Kaufman, the Chairman of the Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship Committee, consulted with several senior USGA staffers and members of the USGA Rules Committee, including Chairman Jim Bunch.
“The player returned a lower score than she actually made resulting in her disqualification,” said Hall. “To her credit, she came to us with this information as soon as she realized a mistake been made. By that time, the match-play draw had already been created.”
Eventually, the USGA decided to apply option (b) under Decision 34-1b/8, which is “to consider the disqualification penalty applicable only from the time of its discovery, thus giving A’s next opponent a default.”
| Championship Facts |
PAR AND YARDAGE – Desert Forest Golf Club will play at 6,209 yards with par of 37-36—73. WHO CAN PLAY? – The U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship is open to female amateur players who will have reached their 25th birthday on or before Sept. 29, and who have a USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 9.4. ARCHITECT – Desert Forest, widely considered the first desert-style course ever built, was designed by Robert "Red" Lawrence and opened in 1962. Lawrence carved the course from existing desert landscape, with virtually no soil having been removed or shaped during course construction. There are no fairway bunkers or water hazards on the course. COURSE RATING AND SLOPE – The USGA Course RatingTM for Desert Forest Golf Club is 76.5; Slope Rating® is 143. COURSE LAYOUT – The fairways will measure .500" in height. The intermediate rough will measure 1.0 inch with a width approximately 6 feet (with adjustments as needed). Depending on density, the primary rough will stand at approximately 1.75 inches high. The goal is to have the putting greens run 10.5-11 feet on the USGA Stimpmeter. TICKETS – Admission for all six days of the championship is free of charge. Spectators are invited to walk the fairways behind the players, but no cameras are allowed during the days of competition. |
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