College golfer withdraws from event after freak tee-related injury

College golfer Gregory Solhaug was forced to withdraw from the NCAA National Championship after suffering a freak injury during his second round.

University of Oregon student Solhaug’s nasty injury came on the tee box before his 11th hole on Saturday at the Grayhawk Golf Club in Arizona.

Solhaug accidentally stood on a wooden tee, which went through his shoe and impaled his left foot.

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He was quickly attended to by medics and was left requiring crutches with a heavily-strapped foot after a visit to a nearby hospital.

Fortunately, Golfweek’s Cameron Jourdan, on the ground in Scottsdale, reported that Solhaug will be able to walk unaided again in around two weeks after the bizarre incident.

The NCAA’s statement read: “Oregon student-athlete Gregory Solhaug suffered a foot injury during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championships and was forced to withdraw from competition.

“Oregon, which completed Saturday’s second round with four players, will have the option to substitute another player into their team lineup for subsequent competition rounds, as they deem appropriate.”

Oregon men’s coach Casey Martin added: “I’ve been in golf nearly 50 years and have never seen anything like that. He was in a lot of pain.”

Solhaug was two-over-par through 10 holes when the tee pierced his foot and ended his tournament early.

He was replaced by Gabriel Harri, who stepped in on Sunday for the team contest.

Oregon ultimately finished well short in 27th place in the final tournament of the season as the top 15 teams progressed to the final stroke play round on Monday.

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.