Tour pro reports rules violation that leads to two players being DQ’d

Sharing club selections among players likely is the most violated rule in professional golf. Numerous players have quietly acknowledged that it happens, and former European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley has called it a “common practice” on tour.

With that knowledge, Cole Hammer could have let a small exchange with a competitor’s caddie slide in this week’s Memorial Health Championship in Springfield, Ill., on the Korn Ferry Tour. But after the round and into the night on Thursday, the circumstance ate at the former University of Texas star and top amateur in the world, and so Hammer reported it to officials.

After a lengthy review on Friday morning, the result was that both he and his fellow player Nelson Ledesma, whose caddie Nico Torres flashed a sign about club selection that Hammer responded to, were disqualified for signing incorrect scorecards from the first round. (Hammer signed for 69 and Ledesma 73.)

“I feel a lot better now that I at least got it off my chest because it was weighing me down,” Hammer, 25, told GolfChannel.com, which reported the story first. “It’s just unfortunate that it’s a caused a little storm around the tournament.”

Rule 10.2a in the Rules of Golf prohibits players from giving or asking for advice from anyone other than their own caddie. In this circumstance, that rule was violated after Hammer hit his shot on the par-3 17th at Panther Creek Country Club. Hammer said that as he walked back to his bag, Ledesma’s caddie showed him four fingers, as in “4-iron?” Hammer said that out of instinct he responded with an affirmative “4.” “It was a heat-of-the-moment thing, and I didn’t think a whole lot about it until after the round,” Hammer said.

“I feel like I know the rules really well, and I’ve always tried to uphold them to the best of my ability,” Hammer said. “It just didn’t sit right with me last night, and when I woke up this morning, I felt compelled to go talk to the rules official and tell him what had happened.”

On Friday morning, without telling Ledesma or his caddie because he didn’t want to worry them, Hammer reported his concerns to KFT rules officials. They took an extended time to decide what to do, and Hammer and Ledesma weren’t informed that they’d been disqualified until six holes into their second rounds. Hammer stood at one under overall at the time, while Ledesma was two over. The cut eventually came at five under.

“I didn’t think that they would be disqualified,” Hammer said. “I just thought since I was the one who gave the sign that I would be disqualified. And I thought that was worst-case scenario.”

In a translated statement to GolfChannel.com, 34-year-old Ledesma said the ruling was fair and in line with the rules, adding that there wasn’t much he could do but accept it. He mentioned that Torres was “surprised” by what happened but also acknowledged the error.

Hammer reflected on the unusual incident, saying, “This kind of thing almost never happens in a tournament, so I’m trying to move on as if it didn’t.” He said the situation taught him something and that he felt mentally stronger for having called the penalty on himself. “I’m not upset or anxious about what’s ahead. In fact, I feel like I can move forward with a clear mind and build on the momentum I had in Wichita,” where he finished tied for 23rd.

He added that with many tournaments still to play, doing the right thing and respecting the integrity of the game will benefit him over time.

So far this season, Hammer has made the cut in just five of his 15 starts and is ranked 73rd on the Korn Ferry Tour points list. Ledesma, who has won twice on the tour, is ranked 102nd and has made five cuts in 14 events.