Reigning BMW International Open winner Fabrizio Zanotti has suffered a head injury while competing in the opening round of the KLM Open.

Zanotti obviously could not be moved and thus forced play to be suspended in the event being played on the Kennemer course in Zandvoort.

It is understood Zanotti was on the 16th fairway at the time, or the seventh hole of his round, when he was hit on the forehead by a drive from Frenchman Alexandre Kaleka who was hitting off the 14th hole.

Blood was immediately pouring from the wound and with Zanotti’s playing partner, Hennie Otto and recent Italian Open winner immediately rendering assistance before medical staff rushed to the scene.

However medical staff then summoned an ambulance to convey the 31-year old born Asuncion-born player to a local hospital for further observation.

Among those who raced to the scene were close friends in Chilean golfer Felipe Aguilar and Argentina’s Ricardo Gonzalez along with KLM Tournament Director Daan Slooter.

Aguilar and Gonzalez retired from the event to travel with Zanotti to hospital given Zanotti was in theNetherlands on his own without his family present.

Play was first halted for 30 minutes and then an hour before officials indicating play would resume another later at 1pm local Dutch time.

The Paraguay golfer was level par after six holes when the injury occurred.

The scene on the 16th fairway with an ambulance on the course to attend to injured Fabrizio Zanotti with Chilean golfer Felipe Aguilar (second from right in cap) present and KLM Open Tournament Director Daan Slooter (center wearing suit).(Photo – Thos Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)

UPDATE –

Miguel Vidaor, Tournament Director for The European Tour, said: “The latest report from hospital is that all neurological tests have come back clear. We wish Fabrizio a speedy recovery.”

Play was halted for just under two hours.