The Loop

Finally, a slow-play penalty

August 25, 2009

Alas, it happened in a national championship, the U.S. Amateur, but at least someone had the nerve to call it, in a prominent pairing, no less.

Tim Jackson, the medalist at Southern Hills, was assessed a one-stroke penalty for slow play, as was his playing partner, Pat Duncan Jr. (son of eight-time San Diego City amateur champion Pat Duncan). The only player in the threesome not penalized was John Kostis, son of prominent teaching pro Peter Kostis, who was deemed the only player in the group who attempted to pick up the pace.

Slow play has been in the news frequently of late, in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and last week in the Solheim Cup.

-- John Strege