Alligator Causes Delay for Teen Golfer

Courtesy of BerNews.com

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL – A Bermudian teenage golfer playing in an international tournament had a slight delay after he managed to hit his ball extremely close to an alligator.

Ryan Roberts (Hank Haney IJGA student) was playing in Day 3 of the 2010 Optimist International Junior Golf Championships in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, when on the 11th hole the ball landed only 18 inches, or less than an arm’s length, away from an alligator.

He was forced to abandon the ball, as the alligator was hovering only mere inches away. Ryan, who is playing in the 16 – 18 age group category, played his next shot from a different area.

“When I walked over to my ball I had my club out ready to hit and didn’t even notice the gator until I looked back up”, stated Roberts. “Then I asked the rules guy what my options were, he said I could wait until the gator ventured off, play it, or drop outside of the hazard so with close to no hesitation I chose to drop outside the hazard and not take any chances.”