Originally Posted by
BC MIST
He was, he could and he did.
You did quote the decision correctly and at first glance it makes sense and is the appropriate consequence. But, Rule 2-2 says, "When a player has holed out and his opponent has been left with a stroke for the half, if the player subsequently incurs a penalty, the hole is halved." Gerry was in in 1, I had a shot to tie him, and he then broke a rule. Halved hole. While the decision you quoted and the statement above somewhat conflict with each other, the statement supersedes the decision. Now, is the hole is halved with holes in one? :)
If Gerry's stroke finished 1" from the hole, he definitely loses the hole. My evil mind now asks one more question. What happens if Gerry's ball is lodged against the flagstick with just enough ball above the hole to be visible from the tee and where there is no doubt that when the FS is moved slightly, the ball will fall into the hole?