Update: Euro Q School upholds DQ of young pro for damaging green
ALEX PLAVEVSKI
An English golfer called it an “accident” when he took a divot out of a green in the Final Stage of DP World Tour Qualifying School. Officials, though, found his actions egregious enough to disqualify him.
According to a report by Monday Q Info, Frank Kennedy, a 21-year-old who has won on the DPWT’s developmental Challenge Tour, allegedly took a one-foot divot out of the 11th green on Monday in the fourth round on Infinitum Golf’s Hills Course in Spain. Monday Q Info reported that multiple people spoke about the incident, including a player.
The DPWT confirmed that Kennedy was DQ’d for “serious misconduct, after causing deliberate damage to the course.”
On Monday night, Kennedy took to Instagram to dispute the characterization of what happened.
“I am hugely disappointed to have been disqualified …” Kennedy wrote. “Reports today say this was for deliberately damaging the course. I did not intentionally or deliberately damage the putting surface, and any comments saying otherwise are wholly incorrect.”
Kennedy further explained that he missed a birdie putt at 11, and “in frustration” he swung his putter and “it accidentally caught the surface.
“My playing partner and I repaired it straight away, and we were both satisfied it was properly fixed before we moved on,” he said. “I should have called a referee to check the repair, and I’ve learned from that.”
Kennedy said he respected the Rules of Golf while adding that it’s not clear to him that his “accidental” contact is a disqualifying offense. He said he asked the DPWT for a clarification and review, and “will respect the outcome of that review.”
With a 69 in the fourth round, Kennedy was in position to be among the top 60 and ties to play the final two rounds. Instead, his DQ moved the cut line from 12 under to 11 under and seven players who would have been eliminated survived. The top 15 players and ties will get DPWT cards for 2027.
UPDATE, Nov. 10—The DP World Tour issued a release on Tuesday stating that at Kennedy's request it had reviewed evidence surrounding the incident and the decision to disqualify him. "The ruling to disqualify him under Rule 1.2a of the Rules of Golf—made by the Qualifying School Rules Committee for serious misconduct for damaging the 11th green during the fourth round—stands."