Amateur Andrea Lee was assessed a one-shot penalty for slow play during the third round of the U.S. Women’s Open on Saturday.
With rounds approaching six hours at the Country Club of Charleston, the Stanford junior and fourth-ranked amateur in the world was the only player in the field singled out for slow play.
Lee was 5 over on her round when she was informed of the penalty, which was preceded by a warning.
Given the pace of the entire event, and considering Lee was only player penalized, the social media reaction was not kind, with the USGA (yet again) drawing criticism:
Not saying the amateur should not have been penalised for slow play. But first reaction is this only highlights The USGA’s cowardice re doing same with the professionals. #justsaying
— John Huggan (@johnhuggan) June 1, 2019
The USGA just penalized amateur Andrea Lee for slow play!
— P.E. (@PEMulroe) June 1, 2019
When will they penalize a professional for this nonsense?
Amateur Andrea Lee getting emotional after being assessed a penalty for slow play. The last group took 3 hours to play the front nine! Feels like the whole day is in slow motion.
— Beth Ann Nichols (@GolfweekNichols) June 1, 2019
With players facing rounds up to 6 hours long the @USGA decides to penalise just one player, Andrea Lee, who is an amateur? Ridiculous @uswomensopen https://t.co/8QGbDIAukL
— Sophie Bell (@SophieBell_94) June 1, 2019
Good for @PaulAzinger saying he doesn’t like how the USGA picked on the amateur Andrea Lee on a day of 6 hour rounds. #USWomensOpen
— Grant Boone (@grantboone) June 1, 2019
Lee would go on to sign for a 7-over 79 that left her 8 over for the week, in 66th place.