Friday 17 October 2014 16:28, UK
The South African Women’s Open has been reduced to 54 holes after Friday’s second round at San Lameer Country Club was cancelled because of heavy winds.
The leader, after 18 holes, is England’s Charley Hull who completed her opening round on Friday in 68 strokes having been forced off the course the previous day due to torrential rain.
Hull returned to play the remaining eight holes taking her score from three-under to four-under before starting her second circuit in Natal.
However, the 18-year-old from Northamptonshire could complete just six holes in round two before returning to the clubhouse early for a second day in a row.
Play on Friday was suspended at 11.10am local time and two hours later was wiped out for the day.
Hull said: “I finished off the round this morning in really windy conditions and I played really well.
“It was blowing a gale out there but I dug deep and continued and played very well.”
Her nearest challengers are Germany’s Steffi Kirchmayr and Hull’s compatriot Rebecca Hudson – both fired three-under-par 69s.
Both finished their opening rounds on Thursday and will now return on Saturday when the second round will begin afresh at 6.15am.
Tournament director Michael Wood said: “We have reduced the tournament to 54 holes, given the fact that we assessed that the timings in place, we wouldn’t finish, without further delays, until Monday morning.
It was blowing a gale out there but I dug deep
“We came here this morning at 4.30 and there were fairly strong winds. We finished round one in winds of 25 miles-per-hour, the wind further strengthened leading into round two with a few downpours. Fairways, tees and greens were unplayable with surface water.
“We got to a stage where if we re-started today a number of players wouldn’t start round two in these conditions and would play afresh tomorrow in completely different conditions to what we were faced with today.”
Leaders thru 18 holes (par 72):
68: Charley Hull (Eng)
69: Steffi Kirchmayr (Ger)
69: Rebecca Hudson (Eng)
70: Valentine Derrey (Fra)
70: Patricia Sanz Barrio (Esp)
70: Ann-Kathrin Lindner (Ger)
70: Fabienne In-albon (Swi)
70: Melissa Eaton (Rsa)
71: Lee-Anne Pace (Rsa)
71: Sophia Popov (Ger)
71: Holly Clyburn (Eng)
