ROCHESTER, N.Y. (FLX) — Controversy is swirling as one FLX Tour Pro is facing a possible suspension for the rest of the season as a result of pulling out of this year’s Genesee Invitational, sources close to the situation said Monday.

Al Gray, currently tied for 16th in the prestigious Young Man of the Year rankings, was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to an unexpected trip that his girlfriend planned. Women … amrite lads?

A withdrawal from the tournament after the tee times and teams were picked is an unprecedented situation for the FLX Tour and officials say they are reviewing the situation carefully.

“We don’t want to set a wishy-washy standard where players can back-in and back-out as they please,” FLX Tour Co-Commissioner Matt Driffill just wrote. “We feel some sort of discplinary action is necessary to prevent situations like this from happening again.”

Gray was selected to tee off with Alex M. Dooley in a reunion of the fan favorite team “Stocked Coolers,” who nearly shocked the world at this year’s Churchville Classic. With Gray’s withdrawal, Tour officials scrambled to find a replacement player with a similar handicap to keep the field as even as possible.

That replacement comes in the form of Eastridge High School alum Ryan Pancione. Pancione, currently a 13.4 handicap on 18 Birdies — the official app of the FLX Tour — will be making his Tour debut, and is known locally for bagging and tagging, on and off the course.

“It’s unfortunate to have to find a replacement for a major tournament this close to tee time, but we feel this was a perfect resolution to this issue,” FLX Tour Co-Commissioner Shane Driffill might have said. “Pancione has been circling the FLX Tour all season and this was the right place and the right time to tag him in.”

As for Gray, Tour officials are discussing what the ramifications of this withdrawal might mean for his eligibility for the rest of the season. Certainly leadership acknowledeges the reality of exentuating circumstances for participation and they are trying to weigh this instance with what other future situations might occur to prevent committed pros from playing in designated events.

With one more major tournament left after the Genesee Invitational, Gray could remain in the running for his first major title, depeneding on what leadership ultimately decices.

Sources close to the situation said Monday that officials are weighing an outright suspension for the rest of the season on Tour or perhaps requiring Gray to double his entry fee from $10 to $20 as a fine for participation in the final major of the year. There’s also a chance these transgressions are forgiven entirely as one source said leadership remains committed to “growing the game.”

Officials said Monday that those decisions are pending the review and recommendation of the Tour’s newly-formed Disciplinary Action Committee.

“I really gotta sell some of these ball markers,” FLX Tour Head of Content and Rules Czar Joey Mortillaro keeps reiterating. “Jess is mad that we got boxes of them taking up too much room in the house. Maybe we can sell them on Ebay? I don’t know. I really gotta figure out how to make some money off these things. It’s simply TOO good.”

The Genesee Invitational, boasting the largest field in FLX Tour history, is set to tee of at 9:10 a.m. on Sunday, August 27 at the world famous Genesee Valley Golf Course. There are a few challengers in the field, but mostly a lot of bell-ringers (full roster table below).

Tour pros are reminded that the Genesee Invitational is a two-man best ball format with 90% handicaps being applied (and a 36 max handicap application). Breakfast balls are also available for purchase for $5 each on holes 1 and 10 and the proceeds of which will benefit the closest-to-the-pin challenge on par 3 hole 18, for which the gallery will be able to observe closely. Should be a very nice time (VNT).

Lastly, Tour Pros are encouraged to stick around after their round is completed for the traditional group photo and are invited to attend the Champions Luncheon at Shamrock Jack’s in Irondequoit after the event where a merry time is expected by all. Half off wings? IN THIS ECONOMY?!

Teams and tee times for the 2023 Genesee Invitational

Tee Time	Team	Team
9:10 a.m.	Matt Driffill & Dan Riesenburger (bell ringers)	Dan Driffill & Kyle Pierce (bell ringers)
9:20 a.m.	Chuck Pace & Shane Driffill (bell ringers)	Evan Santiago & Kevin Moynihan (bell ringers)
9:30 a.m.	Jesse Cramer & Nathan Wirth (bell ringers)	Sean Sawyer & Patrick Moynihan
9:40 a.m.	Brendan Millward & Boston Slootmahker	Chris Miers & Brandon Moynihan
9:50 a.m.	Tim Dorsheimer & Gene Ferrera	Danny Driffill & Brier Koroly
10 a.m.	Tom Deiure & Mike Mortillaro	Joey Mortillaro & Jack Burns (bell ringers)
10:10 a.m.	Danny Ott & Steve Nally (bell ringers)	Al Gray & Alex M. Dooley (bell ringers)