Bizarre DQ at U.S. Women’s Open After Multiple Violations of Same Rule

A 20-year-old LPGA rookie was disqualified from the tournament after completing just five holes in her opening round.

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Natthakritta Vongtaveelap of Thailand only finished five holes before she was disqualified from the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. 

According to a release from the USGA, the 20-year-old LPGA rookie was DQ’d after her caddie used a rangefinder to measure distances not once, but twice on Thursday. 

“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,” the USGA released in a statement.  

Distance measuring devices have been permitted on the LPGA Tour since 2021, but they are not allowed during the U.S. Women’s Open. 

Vongtaveelap qualified into the championship by shooting 69-69 at Echno Lake Country Club in Westfield, N.J. 

It would have been her first U.S. Women’s Open. She missed the cut at both the Chevron Championship and the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship this year. 

Vongtaveelap was even par through five holes when she was notified of the disqualification.