Saltman handed three-month ban

Elliot suspended from European Tour after breach of tournament regulations

One of Scotland’s newest European Tour members is facing three months on the sidelines after being found guilty of a “serious breach” of the Rules of Golf.

Elliot Saltman appeared before the European Tour’s Tournament Committee in Abu Dhabi yesterday to face allegations that he marked his ball incorrectly during the Russian Challenge Cup in Moscow last year, an event from which the 28-year-old was disqualified.

The cheating claims were made by his playing partners at the time, Stuart Davis and Marcus Higley, who were flown to the Middle East with Saltman at the tour’s expense, to face the eight-person committee.

It unanimously concluded Saltman had violated Challenge Tour rules, recommending that a three-month ban be put in place.

Below is the full statement issued from the European Tour Tournament Committee:

“At a Disciplinary Hearing of The European Tour Tournament Committee in Abu Dhabi on January 18, 2011, the Committee unanimously found that Elliot Saltman had committed a serious breach of the 2010 Challenge Tour Members Regulation F 1 (b) 6 (Rules of Golf) during the first round of the M2M Russian Challenge Cup on September 16 2010 at Tseleevo Golf & Polo Club, Moscow, Russia.

It was the finding of the Tournament Committee that Elliot Saltman, who was disqualified from the M2M Russian Challenge Cup, be suspended from participating in all European Tour and Challenge Tour sanctioned tournaments for a period of three months, starting on January 19, 2011.

Under Challenge Tour regulations Elliot Saltman, who attended the Disciplinary Hearing in Abu Dhabi, has the right to lodge an appeal before the Board of The European Tour. This appeal must be lodged within 28 days.”

Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.

Editor of bunkered