Caddie’s rules blunder ends Oliva Pinto’s US Amateur campaign
Segundo Oliva Pinto’s US Amateur hopes were dealt a fatal blow after his bagman’s inexplicable mistake at Bandon Dunes
Imagine a week’s hard work coming to an end for something so stupid. Segundo Oliva Pinto had grafted hard at the US Amateur and his last 16 tie with Tyler Strafaci at Bandon Dunes had reached the final hole tied – only for his challenge to come to an end in a greenside bunker.
All because of a moment of madness from his caddie.
Oliva Pinto was preparing to hit his fourth out of the sand at the par-5 closer when his bag man walked into the trap, bent down, and started brushing the sand with his fingers.
It was reported that Strafaci’s father and caddie saw it and called over a rules official.
The caddie is said to have denied he’d done anything wrong but TV footage showed him in the sand and the official decided he had breached Rule 12.2b.
That rule – Restrictions on Touching Sand in Bunker – says a player must not “deliberately touch sand in the bunker with a hand, club, rake or other object to test the condition of the sand to learn information for the next stroke”.
A player is responsible for his or her caddie’s actions and Rule 10.3c states that “if the caddie’s action breaches a Rule or would breach a Rule if the action was taken by the player, the player gets the penalty under that Rule”.
The outcome was the general penalty, which in match play means loss of hole. Oliva Pinto’s challenge was over.
The 20-year-old Argentinian, who is a junior at UNC Wilmington, took the situation with a huge amount of grace.
“Regarding what happened, I wasn’t looking at it,” he said. “I was just near the flag trying to get a good read of where I wanted the ball to bounce.
“As soon as I get back there, the referee comes up and asks my caddie what happened. I’m completely shocked. I am just trying to get this shot near, try and make an up and down, and win the match.
“Probably, he touched the sand, or something, and that’s a penalty. It’s a hole and the match ended there.”
Oliva Pinto added: “He (caddie) didn’t say anything but, at this point, it doesn’t really matter. What happened, happened. He can say anything and it won’t change it.”
Strafaci would go on to beat Ollie Osborne 1-up in the final.
Have you ever seen a rules blunder like this one at the US Amateur? Have your say in the comments, or tweet me.
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Steve Carroll
A journalist for 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long. A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A's prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.
Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men's Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.
A part of NCG's Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He currently floats at around 11.
Steve plays at Close House, in Newcastle, and York GC, where he is a member of the club's matches and competitions committee and referees the annual 36-hole scratch York Rose Bowl.
Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NTCJ exams at Darlington College of Technology.
What's in Steve's bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; Caley 01T irons 4-PW; TaylorMade Hi-Toe wedges, Ping ChipR, Sik Putter.
