Heavy rain, lightning disrupt first day of Australian PGA
MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Heavy rain and lightning severely
disrupted then caused the abandonment of the opening day’s play
of the Australian PGA golf tournament at Coolum on Queensland’s
Sunshine Coast on Thursday.
Just 11 players completed their first rounds before play
was first halted at about 11:20 a.m. (0120 GMT), then abandoned
all together at 3:00 p.m. with Richard Swift and Luke Hickmott
tied for the lead at four-under-par.
Both have yet to complete their rounds.
They were one clear of a group of four players which
includes Australian Open winner Robert Allenby, who are also
yet to complete their first rounds.
Richard Ball and Bradley Iles were the clubhouse leaders on
one-under-par 71.
Hickmott, who had completed 16 holes, had a jumpy start
after bogies on the fifth and seventh holes before he fired
three consecutive birdies from the 14th until play was
suspended.
Swift picked up birdies on the second, fourth, seventh and
ninth, before he completed his 11th hole when play was
suspended.
U.S. Open champion Michael Campbell of New Zealand and
tournament favorite Stuart Appleby had not even teed off, while
2003 U.S. PGA winner Shaun Micheel was one-over through 12
holes.
Champion Peter Lonard was four-over through 13 holes.
Play will begin early on Friday with the first groups
teeing off at 04:30 a.m.
Two-time British Open champion Greg Norman, meanwhile, has
been made a life member of the PGA of Australia, silencing last
week’s criticism by fellow professional Mark Hensby he had not
done enough for Australian golfers or the Australasian tour.
“This honor is only bestowed on a select few individuals
who are judged by their peers to have made a significant
contribution to golf and the PGA in particular,” the
association said in a statement.
“At the end of a week of controversy whereby Norman’s
contribution to Australian golf was questioned, this accolade
once and for all puts to rest any doubt that Greg has made an
outstanding contribution to the PGA.”