Tournament organizers officially stripped amateur golfer Josh Howell of his Amateur X3 division title at the BMW Charity Pro-Am on July 6, 2026, following an investigation that confirmed he competed using an inflated handicap.
The disqualification overturned the initial results where Howell and Korn Ferry Tour professional David Kocher secured victory by a nine-shot margin.
Officials subsequently recognized Chris Harrison, who partnered with professional Dylan Menante to shoot 18 under par, as the rightful champion of the tournament presented by TD SYNNEX.
Investigation Triggered by Online Report
An online investigation triggered the review after X user Yip Strickler posted a video report on June 17, 2026, alleging that Howell engaged in sandbagging.
The tournament confirmed Howell registered with a 5.0 handicap via the Wyoming State Golf Club just one month prior to the event, while maintaining a second account under the name Joshua Howell at Soldier Hollow Golf Club in Utah with a +0.9 handicap.
"Congratulations to Chris Harrison, the official and rightful 2026 BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by TD SYNNEX Amateur X3 Division Champion.
Following a thorough review of information regarding the original championship results, the Tournament has officially recognized Chris as this year's X3 Division winner.
His outstanding performance throughout Tournament play earned him his title, and we are proud to ensure he receives the recognition he rightfully deserves," stated the BMW Charity Pro-Am in an official announcement.
The nearly six-stroke discrepancy between the two handicap accounts gave Howell a significant net-score advantage during the net-score competition.
This artificial cushion allowed the team to post a six-under-par 64 in the opening round despite Kocher carding a one-over-par 71, raising immediate concerns since amateur pro-am divisions typically see margins of only one or two strokes.
"Integrity and sportsmanship will always be at the heart of the BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by TD SYNNEX.
Moving forward, we are implementing enhanced registration review procedures and additional handicap verification protocols to help ensure an equitable playing field for every professional, celebrity, and amateur participant," the tournament statement continued.
As reported by Golf Monthly, the Korn Ferry Tour declined to comment on the matter, while Howell, Kocher, and Harrison have issued no public statements following the ruling.
