Duramed Futures Qualifying

[Balabill]

Does anyone know what happened to Elena Robles to-day in round two.
She was leading yesterday with a 68 but today she is not listed in the results.

[sag]

Hey Bill, the info is in the round 2 wrap story. She was DQ for using a range finder.

http://duramedfuturestour.com/2007/W110707.asp

First-round co-leader Elena Robles of Palm Springs, Calif., was disqualified today after a fellow competitor asserted that Robles had used a range finder on the course during competition during Tuesday?s first round. Amanda Horn of Bremen, Ga., was disqualified on Tuesday for using one of the measuring devices in the first round.

?I didn?t think twice about it and I would have called it on myself if I had realized they weren?t allowed,? said Robles, who was reached by telephone as she drove to the airport tonight. ?I guess you learn from your mistakes. I shot my career-low round yesterday and now, I just have to focus on the positives. I?ll be back.?

Robles said she mistakenly listened to a volunteer starter on the first tee at Schalamar Creek who told her the range finder was ?OK? to use in the event. Robles said she used it on the first hole and didn?t notice the Tour?s reminder on its Supplemental Rules of Play sheet until later. The sheets are given to each player on their first tee at each of the tournament?s three courses, outlining the Tour?s rules. This one states: ?The use of artificial measuring devices (ranger finders) is PROHIBITED during all rounds of the 2008 Duramed FUTURES Tour Qualifying Tournament.?

?There aren?t many markers out there, so I had to guess some of my yardages,? said Ashley Mylton of Charlotte, N.C., who played with Robles in the first round. ?Elena pulled out the range finder on the first hole and I said, ?Whoah, I don?t think you can use that,? but she said she had asked someone and they said that she could.?

?A girl in my group [Horn] was disqualified yesterday for using one,? added Lindsey Edmunds of London, Ontario. ?It?s definitely an advantage to use a range finder out there.?

According to Christy Barks, the Tour?s director of operations, the United States Golf Association authorizes a committee to adopt a local rule that allows for the use of electronic devices (range finders) during competition, but the Duramed FUTURES Tour has not adopted that local rule and has prohibited the use of the devices in the Tour?s supplemental rules of play.

?Players are responsible for knowing the rules of golf, as well as the local rules and supplemental rules of play,? said Barks. ?Use of electronic devices results in disqualification. This was a very unfortunate situation because these players were disqualified and are not eligible to play with us in 2008.?

Barks added that this is the first time she is aware that players were disqualified for using range finders in competition.

?It?s a tough lesson to learn,? she added.

[LoJo]

It never ceases to amaze me how so-called "professional" golfers can not understand the importance of learning the very foundation of the game they play for a living....the Rules of Golf!

Really, it's inexcusable in the case of this range finder incident. Even amateur golfers know that you can't use these devices in competition unless specifically allowed by local or supplemental rule. And....duh....listening to a volunteer starter at the golf course?

Hard lesson to learn by being DQ'ed, as she's now ineligible to play at all on the FT next year even as a non-exempt player.

[Balabill]

Thanks for that information Sag.
It is unfortunate, what a way to start your career as a professional. Does she have other options? Like the Hooters tour or the Canadian Tour, Anything, to keep her game sharp. Didn?t the LPGA adopt a rule allowing the use of rang finders?

[LoJo]

Originally Posted by Balabill

Thanks for that information Sag.
It is unfortunate, what a way to start your career as a professional. Does she have other options? Like the Hooters tour or the Canadian Tour, Anything, to keep her game sharp. Didn?t the LPGA adopt a rule allowing the use of rang finders?

I guess she has the options you mentioned, but they have so few events, which pay very little.

Neither the LPGA nor the PGA have adopted a local rule allowing the use of electronic measuring devices such as rangefinders or GPS devices in competition.

There is one men's "mini tour" which has allowed their use, but that tour will no longer be supported by the USGA in interpretations of Rules questions.