When in doubt, ask an official

BRADENTON - In the recent United States Open local qualifier held this past Monday at Waterlefe Golf & River Club, one of the 54 players in the field competing for three spots was disqualified fairly early.

If you missed the Tuesday's edition of The Herald on who qualified, you can click here

Bradenton's Tory Henderson earned the DQ after using a rangefinder device in the fairway on his first hole.

The Florida State Golf Association allows GPS/rangefinders in its events.

However, the United States Golf Association, which is the governing body in the rules of golf in this country, does not allow those yardage devices.

This rule was stated in the attached rules section provided by the FSGA, the state governing body that runs the USGA's qualifiers in the state of Florida.

But, Henderson didn't heed that rule and ultimately paid the price with a DQ without ever finishing a hole.

So the lesson here is, when in doubt, ask an official.

The U.S. Open' sectional qualifiers begin May 24 in England and Japan. The qualifiers in America aren't until June 7, with Florida's lone sectional taking place in Hobe Sound at McArthur Golf Club.

The 2010 U.S. Open is being played at Pebble Beach Golf Links runs the week of June 14-20.