Jay Jennison Memorial Invitational First-Round Results
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - Due to course setup, unfortunate circumstances transpired in the early stages of the Jay Jennison Memorial Invitational that left the Eckerd College men's golf program disqualified along with Lynn University and the University of Montevallo (Ala.) on Monday.
Even though the Tritons will complete their final round of 18 tomorrow, the scenario has made the Tritons ineligible for a spot in the team and individual standings.
That also means junior
Jeff Evanier, the defending medalist from the same event a year ago, will not get his opportunity to repeat as the top individual.
Evanier was well on his way to contending for his chance at medalist honors, carding a first-round 75 followed by an even-par 72. If scores were counted, he would be tied for ninth in the field, just five strokes behind the leader.
“We were in the wrong place at the wrong time,” EC Head Coach
Bill Buttner said. “There was equal blame everywhere and it's unfortunate that it was the players who were penalized. It was a domino effect of errors and a tough situation from everyone's standpoint.”
The Tritons started their morning with an 8 a.m. shotgun start paired up with Lynn and Montevallo off the 11th, 12th and 13th holes, at The Palencia Club.
Host Flagler College had put out their own set of tee markers that were tough to see when driving up with the golf carts, but Eckerd, Lynn and Montevallo, played the markers arranged by The Palencia Club believing they were the right ones.
Consequently, all three schools forged ahead and completed play from the wrong tee markers, including a hidden par-3 No. 14 with tees that were off to the side.
By the time they realized they were playing from the wrong tee markers, the coaches panicked and prevented another wave of teams from playing through, saving potential further disqualifications in the field.
“It was a badly-marked situation that led into it and every other tee box,” Buttner said. “There was no other tee set up for easier identification. When you went up to these two holes, the markers were hidden.”
If either Buttner, Andrew Danna (Lynn) or Justin Pratt (Montevallo) would have caught the error earlier, the consequences would have been less severe according to USGA Rule 11-5, which refers to the criteria under Rule 11-4b.:
“If a competitor, when starting a hole, plays a ball from outside the teeing ground, he incurs a penalty of two strokes and must then play a ball from within the teeing ground.
If the competitor makes a stroke from the next teeing ground without first correcting his mistake or, in the case of the last hole of the round, leaves the putting green without first declaring his intention to correct his mistake, he is disqualified.”
The Tritons, who traveled Evanier,
Greg Reilly,
Johan Wahlberg,
Paul Henderson and
Jake Solomon, will look to finish strong on Tuesday in the final round of play.
