Dawie Van der Walt has been disqualified from the Russian Open, which took place in Moscow earlier this month.
Late disqualification after score blunder
South African Dawie Van der Walt has been disqualified from the Russian Open, which took place in Moscow earlier in the month.
The 24-year-old finished joint fourth in the event at Le Meridien Country Club, but it has now emerged that he signed for an incorrect score during his third round.
Van der Walt put himself down for a 68 when in fact he should have posted a 69, the confusion coming at the 13th hole when he signed for a four rather than a five.
As a result the South African has now been disqualified and will forfeit the £48,361 prize money that he picked up.
However, he will be allowed to keep the £6,171 he won in last week's Scandinavian Masters despite only qualifying for that tournament due to his top-10 finish in Moscow.
European Tour director of operations David Garland explained: "It has come to light that Dawie Van der Walt signed for a wrong score during the third round of The Russian Open Golf Championship.
"He signed for a four on the 13th hole where he took a five and even though the tournament is completed and closed, he is disqualified under Rule 34-1b III.
"The results of the Russian Open Golf Championship and The European Tour Order of Merit will be amended.
"As we were unaware of this discrepancy during the Scandinavian Masters, where Dawie qualified to play due to his top 10 in Russia, the results of the Scandinavian Masters will be unaffected."
