A thrilling end to the GS Caltex Maekyung Open in Korea on Sunday was in danger of being overshadowed by a messy incident involving title chasing In-hoi Hur.

While compatriots Min-hyuk Song and Ming-yu Cho were battling it out for first, Hur was quietly putting together the round of the day, completely unaware he was going to be handed a two-stroke penalty the moment he walked off the Namseoul Country Club course.

Oblivious to what lay ahead, Hur was seven-under through 13 in his final round, and at 11 under overall was just a shot back from Song, with Cho leading on 13 under through 10.

Hur was belatedly punished for signing for a wrong score after Saturday’s third round, and may count himself lucky not to have been disqualified entirely given the nature of the offence.

Playing the 418-yard par-4 seventh, Hur was wild with a first tee shot and hit a provisional. According to local officials, a spotter found and picked up the Korean’s first ball believing it had gone out of bounds.

A Korean Golf Association referee who was on hand ruled the first ball should not be counted, and Hur played his provisional and put down what he believed to be a par on his scorecard.