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Emilio Gonzalez, a Mexican professional playing in his country’s PGA Tour event, was disqualified from the tournament after officials determined he committed a violation of “misbehavior” rules.
According to the PGA Tour, the 27-year-old pro committed the offense while playing the 15th hole at the El Cardonal in Diamante during Friday’s second round World Championship of Technology. Gonzalez had hit his ball in a deserted area on the hole, hit a temporary ball, searched for the original but failed to make “reasonable efforts” to identify a ball that was found under the three-minute search time limit from the rules and continued to play the provisional ball.
That was a no-no, under rule 18.3c(3)which says in its last paragraph:
“If the provisional ball has not become a ball in play and a ball is found which may be the original ball, the player must make all reasonable efforts to identify that ball. If the player fails to do so, the Committee may disqualify the player under Rule 1.2a if it decides that this was serious misconduct contrary to the spirit of the game.”
Gonzalez, playing with the exception of a sponsor, was interviewed by Universal Sports after the round, but it appeared he wasn’t asked about the disqualification. Notably, Gonzalez shot rounds of one-over 73 and one-under 71 and would have missed by two strokes.
This year, Gonzalez played 25 events on the Korn Ferry Tour, recording two top 10s, seven top 25s and 16 cuts made. He also played in a PGA Tour event, at Houston Openwhere he shot rounds of 73, 68, 72 and 71 to tie for 74th place.
Gonzalez is scheduled to play in the PGA Tour’s Q-School, set for next month at TPC Sawgrass’ Dye’s Valley Course and Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. The top five and ties will earn a promotion to the tournament.
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