LPGA Tour opener shortened due to wind

High winds are playing havoc with the opening LPGA event in the Bahamas, where Australian Sarah Jane Smith is in a three-way tie for the lead.

Brooke Henderson bogeyed the first hole to drop into a tie with Australian Sarah Jane Smith and Spain's Luna Sobron Galmes for the lead before the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic was suspended for the day.

The tournament was later cut to 54 holes on Friday because of high wind that moved balls due to its ferocity.

Sustained 70km/h winds gusting even stronger at times hit the Ocean Club Golf Course, forcing officials to stop second-round play at 8:39am local time.

They shortened the season-opening event from 72 to 54 holes in an attempt to complete play on Sunday, but didn't rule out a Monday finish.

"Yesterday we were able to play and complete the round, but we did have an isolated ball move here and there, but it wasn't much and we could get it right back into play," said Sue Witters, the LPGA's vice president of Tour rules and competition.

"This morning was a different story. The winds are up from what they were and we got to the point on (hole) 13 where we could not get a ball to stay at rest on the green."

On Thursday, Henderson shot a bogey-free five-under 68 in high wind to take a one-stroke lead.

The bogey on the par-four first dropped the 20-year-old Canadian into a tie with Smith and Spanish rookie Sobron Galmes.

Smith and Sobron Galmes will begin their rounds Saturday, when morning wind gusts of around the 35km/h mark are expected.


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Source: AAP



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