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New Victorian pro Zach Murray said he only had himself to blame today after a scoring error forced his disqualification from the ISPS Handa Vic Open.
Murray, the WA Open champion last year before he turned professional, had a nightmare on the par-five second on the Beach Course at 13th Beach in high winds and driving rain.
But worse was to come as a result of his excursion to the rough on the adjacent eighth hole.
After a shank, a lost ball, a penalty drop and other calamities, it was originally thought by his group amid the drama that Murray had endured a triple-bogey eight.
He told marker Darren Beck that he would like to check after the round, but essentially forgot until after he’d left the score return area.
As soon as he and caddie Marty Joyce thought it through, Murray realised his error and returned to confess his error and score of nine to officials, who had no choice under the Rules of Golf but to disqualify the 21-year-old.
“People have praised me for being honest, but they should be giving me a whack for not reviewing the score,” Murray said.
“The entire game of golf is built on integrity at every level and once I realised the mistake there was simply no option than to declare the error.
“It was a `rookie’ mistake and no one else’s but mine. I will obviously learn from it. I guess it is all part of the journey.
“The weather was a battle for everyone at different stages of the day and also provided plenty of experience to put in the bank.
“I think I saw a chicken lay the same egg three times it was that windy on one hole.”