The New Zealand Women's Open will go into a fifth day with event organisers determined on playing out the full 72 holes of golf.
Heavy rain and strong winds have lashed Windross Farm throughout Sunday's fourth round, with several front-running golfers playing fewer than nine holes.
As a result, the fourth round was not complete by sunset.
Rather than call the Open off early, the LPGA - in what is their first sanctioned women's golf event on Kiwi soil - instructed players to return on Monday.
Sunday's proceedings were officially called off at 5.30pm due to yet another downpour, spoiling the LPGA's plan to push play through to sunset at 7.15pm.
More than five hours of golf were suspended overall.
LPGA rules director Bo Ream told reporters the players had a "mixed" reaction to the decision with many forced to reschedule international flights.
But returning on Monday was the right thing to do, Ream said earlier on Sunday.
"We want to get as much golf done as we can today, so we have less to play first thing in the morning - our goal is always to get 72 holes in."
However, further rain ruined those plans.
In what were Sunday's sparse periods of calm weather, Canadian prodigy Brooke Henderson staked her claim for the Open, opening up a three-stroke lead.
One shot behind Spanish third-round leader Belen Mozo at the start of play, Henderson nabbed three birdies in six holes to sit on 17-under overall.
Mozo, meanwhile, faltered to 13-under par, level with American Brittany Lincicome and one ahead of Denmark's Nicole Broch Larsen and China's Yan Jing.
Australia's Su Oh is sixth and six shots off the pace at 11-under.
Kiwi superstar and former world No.1 Lydia Ko is eight shots off the pace in ninth, after roaring out of the blocks early.
The 20-year-old bagged birdies on the first and second holes, placing herself in top-five contention, until early morning rainfall blunted her momentum.
She resumed play about 12.30pm, notching a succession of pars before a bogey on a windswept par-four eighth hole ruined her earlier progress.
Play was again suspended after Ko's ninth-hole par and she only managed to play one further hole during the course of the afternoon.
Spectators will be given free entry to Windross Farm on Monday.
Share
