PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – Thailand’s Natthakritta Vongtaveelap was disqualified from the first round of the 78th U.S. Women’s Open after her caddie, Jinsup Kim, used a distance-measuring device on multiple holes.
Vongtaveelap, a promising 20-year-old rookie from Thailand, was even par through five holes at Pebble Beach Golf Links and competing in her first U.S. Women’s Open on Thursday.
The USGA released a statement that read:
“During the first round, on multiple occasions, the caddie for Natthakritta Vongtaveelap used a distance measuring device, which is not allowed in the U.S. Women’s Open. The first breach is a general penalty, and the second breach resulted in disqualification.”
Distance measuring devices were allowed at the recent KPMG Women’s PGA at Baltusrol. The only places on tour they are not allowed are here at the U.S. Women’s Open and the AIG Women’s British Open.
