Tommy Kuhl, a fifth-year senior at Illinois, shot a course-record 62 at Illini Country Club in Springfield, Ill., which would have earned him medalist honors and allowed him to advance in U.S. Open Final Qualifying.
After his round, he went back out on the course to watch some of his teammates compete. Illinois teammate Jackson Buchanan mentioned to Kohl how difficult it had been to putt on aerated greens.
That’s when it hit Kohl: He had repaired aeration marks multiple times during the round, which is not allowed under the Rules of Golf. Under the Rules, golfers may repair “almost any damage on the green,” but not aeration marks.
Kuhl realized his mistake and reported himself to the rules official, leading to his disqualification.
