Golf Rules: Playing a Provisional Ball After Finding a Lost Ball

Question
situation:  you hit a ball from the tee box about 250 yards that you believe is out of bounds.  you hit a provisional ball about 200 yards, short of where you think your original shot went out of bounds.  you then hit your provisional ball a second time.  walking up a little further, you then find your original ball in bounds.

question: can you now play your original ball, laying one, with no penalty and disregard your provisional ball?

Answer
hello and thank you for the question.  thats a great question as it can happen all the time...
unfortunatley, after you hit the provisional ball and realize that you found the ball, there is a two stroke penalty and you play your ORIGINAL ball.  the rule may sound a little harsh and unfair but thats just the way it is.  i  hope i helped.