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Controversy has broken out at the Evian Championship after a player was disqualified for refusing to sign her card in a dispute over a slow play penalty.

Carlota Ciganda refused to accept a two-shot penalty for slow play after shooting a a one-over 72 in the fourth women’s major of the year.

The 33-year-old Spaniard – who tied third in the event 12 months ago – was subsequently DQ’d and will play no further part in the tournament.

A statement from the LPGA explained the bizarre incident.

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“Group 14 … received a warning on No. 7 after being out of position,” it read. “The group failed to make up time through the seventh hole, therefore the group was timed starting on No. 8.”On the ninth hole [the group’s last hole of the day after starting on No. 10], Carlota Ciganda’s shot times prompted a two-stroke penalty per the LPGA Tour’s Pace of Play Policy.

“Ciganda was allowed an appeal with the advance and lead rules officials before returning her scorecard, which was heard and denied. Therefore, a two-stroke penalty was upheld.

“Ciganda opted not to add the two-stroke penalty to her signed scorecard. She was told that leaving the official recording area with a signed score lower (without the penalty strokes) would lead to disqualification, and left on her own accord.”

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Under Rule 3.3b(3), a player is disqualified if they return a score lower than their actual score.

Ciganda’s adjusted score would have left on six-over-par and outside of the cut line heading into the weekend.
The five-time Solheim Cup player has a reputation for slow play. She lost a hole – and the match – at the 2021 Bank of Hope LPGA Match Play event after being penalised for incurring a bad time.
Home hopeful Celine Boutier tops the Evian leaderboard heading into the weekend, leading by one from Patty Tavatanakit and Yuka Saso.

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