USA team DQ'd from Amateur Golf Championship after rules infraction

The United States women's team have been disqualified from this week's Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship for marking their scorecard incorrectly. 

The 54-hole biennial fourball strokeplay competition staged at Whispering Pines Golf Club in Texas pits 19 countries into fourball action by teams of four (two men and two men).

For the US Women's side, however, the tournament ended as soon as the first day after Kaitlyn Papp's birdie at the par-3 third hole was in fact written down on the scorecard as a birdie for playing partner Emilia Migliaccio. 

According to golf's rulebook under Rule 23.2b, which applies to fourball strokeplay, marking the scorecard in this way results in an automatic team DQ. 

The Rule states the following: "Each rule on the scorecard must be clearly identified as the score of the individual partner who made it; if it's not done, the side is disqualified.

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The US team reported the incident straight away and had no complaints. 

"Playing within the Rules is at the core of The Spirit and its competitors," said US captain Stacy Lewis. 

"While Team USA is certainly disappointed, they understand the implications. The fact that Emilia and Kaitlyn want to continue to play without being in contention for the championship shows their true spirit, integrity and love of this great game."

The United States mens team are still flying the flag for the stars and stripes, and doing so nicely with an opening 6-under 66 to trail Team France by three strokes. 

This rules violation marks the third one in the space of a week on Tour. 

NEXT PAGE: HUGE ROW BOILS FOLLOWING RULES VIOLATION AT LPGA EVENT!