SerpApi.Org
James Nagle, a rising high school senior from Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, was disqualified from the U.S. Junior Amateur on Monday for using green-reading materials.
Nagle, a South Florida commit, fired a 6-over 76 at Saucon Valley's Grace Course in Pennsylvania, but during his round was in violation of Model Local Rule G-12, which states: “During a round, a player must not use any written, printed, electronic or digital materials to help with reading their line of play for any stroke to be made from the putting green.”
“I was not informed on the fact yardage books with green maps were not permitted to use while on the putting surface,” Nagle posted on his Instagram story Monday. “My playing partner warned me that it wasn’t allowed. So, I went to the nearest rules official and explained to them the situation. They told me to finish the round while they reviewed the situation."
MLR G-12 modifies Rule 4.3a/1, which "limits the size and scale of detailed putting green maps and any similar electronic or digital materials that a player may use during a round to help with reading their line of play on the putting green so that a player's ability to read a green remains an essential part of the skill of putting." A committee may choose to place even greater emphasis on the judgment, skills and abilities of the player to read their line of play on the putting green by prohibiting the use of any materials for such a purpose.
The penalty for the first violation is a two-shot penalty. The second is a disqualification.
"After shooting a 76 on the Grace Course, they asked me if I was sure I had used it more than once and that it was for the sole purpose of getting green information. I said yes. This resulted in the DQ," Nagle continued on social media.
Nagle is 318th in the AJGA rankings, but his time at the U.S. Junior Amateur is finished after only one day.
Cameron Jourdan is an assistant editor of Golfweek, covering college and amateur golf, the PGA Tour and plenty more. Follow Cameron on X/Twitter (@Cam_Jourdan) or Instagram (@GolfweekJourdan).
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Competitor disqualified from U.S. Junior Amateur for using green-reading materials
