The Victorian Open has been turned upside down with first-round leader Nick Gillespie sensationally disqualified for failing to sign his scorecard.
The New Zealander was elated after finishing his opening round in 65 at 13th Beach on the Bellarine Peninsula to equal the course record at seven under par on Thursday.
But his joy turned to despair when approached soon after by tournament officials, who informed the 24-year-old from Wellington that he'd breached a key rule that lies at the heart of golf's honour system.
Gillespie, a former winner of both the Fiji and Vanuatu opens and in his third year as a professional, was totally unaware he'd made such a rookie but costly mistake.
A visibly upset Gillespie made a hasty exit from the impromptu meeting and refused to talk about the incident. However he later calmed down and made light of such a gut-wrenching situation.