Rules question

Question
During a match play tournament, our local pro had a "beat the pro" competition on a par 3. One of the players in the group had hit his ball into a green side trap, but when he approached the green he saw a ball in the rough between the trap and the green and addressed what turned out to be the wrong ball. The pro stopped him from hitting the ball. (which, it seems was one he had left next to the green from a prior group)The result was that that player halved the hole instead of losing it. Was the local pro correct in assisting the player?

Answer
Carl,

Since this was an unusual circumstance, because of the Beat the Pro competition, I think he acted correctly. Remember that anyone can help you find your ball which is perfectly legal. This is in a sense what the Pro did.

Good job to him.

Thank you,

Michael