Stormy weather delays tournament again
Posted on Sunday, July 6, 2008
ROGERS — After two days of unsavory weather, LPGA P&G Beauty Northwest Arkansas Championship officials hope clear skies today will allow them to complete the tournament this afternoon.
Seventy of the 140 remaining players did not finish their second round Saturday, but they will try to finish beginning at 6: 30 a.m. today.
The horn sounded at 8: 20 p.m. Saturday for players to wrap up play for the day. Those not finishing the round will need to report to the clubhouse by 6: 15 this morning to resume play.
The forecast calls for a 20 percent chance of rain throughout the day. If it holds off, the third round, featuring the top 70 players and ties, will begin between 9 and 9: 15 a.m. Groups will tee off on both the No. 1 and No. 10 holes.
“We’re going to move it up 15 minutes and maintenance is going to do everything they can to try and get that done. That’s when we’ll resume play,” LPGA vice president of rules and officials Doug Brecht said. “We’ll repair them and get them back out there and finish that last round as quickly as we possibly can.” LPGA Tour players were given a memo as they left the clubhouse Saturday night estimating the potential start and completion times for the third round. It also estimated the cut at 1 under par. Eighty-one players were at 1 under or better when play was halted. If all goes well, the tournament would conclude between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.
“That memo will have all of these estimates on it so players can make their arrangements and play,” Brecht said. “If we hedge any way, it will be early so players can be here, warm up and not need a lot of time to do that. That’s an effort for us to save as much time as possible.” Much like Friday, weather delays hampered the early part of the day Saturday. The 72 players needing to finish their first round Saturday morning were transported to their tee box beginning at 6: 30 a.m. The horn sounded to begin play at 6: 47 a.m.
Heavy rains moved into the area about 9: 15 a. m., but LPGA officials intended for the participants to play through it. But the LPGA, which has a meteorologist with radar and a lightning detection system available, stopped play because of lightning in the area at 9: 20 a.m. with 11 groups still on the course.
Players waited around the clubhouse as the original 9: 45 a.m. starting time for the second round came and went.
At 10: 18 a. m., LPGA officials sent the players back out on the course but brought them back to the clubhouse before most even reached their balls. Lightning had been detected in the area, and tournament officials decided it would be better to wait.
“There was energy that built up with the storm, and we’re not taking any chances. I’ve been at golf tournaments when people have been hit by lightning.... We’re going to be safe in the way we conduct our business,” Brecht said.
At 10: 44 a. m., they sent the players back out on the course, and play resumed at 10: 58, a total delay of 1 hour and 38 minutes.
There is no LPGA rule requiring a certain amount of time to pass before players return to the course. The LPGA just tries to wait until conditions appear to be safe. The storm had moved 6 miles east of Pinnacle Country Club by the time they sent them back out.
“It’s based on when the energy leaves the area,” Brecht said.
Second-round play began at 11: 30 a.m. with four groups still completing their first round. At 11: 57 a. m., the first round officially ended with American Kristy McPherson, who made three birdies Saturday morning, and Seon Hwa Lee tied at 8 under par.
“It makes the course definitely a little bit easier because obviously you could go at the pins and you can be more aggressive,” said Angela Park, who shot a course record 10-under-par 62 Saturday.
No player in the field has been able to complete their scheduled round both Friday and Saturday.
FEEDBACK:
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online
