Golf Update: Rain hampers Victorian PGA Championship
The Victorian PGA Championship taking place in Sandhurst was called off due to heavy rain. The weather appeared to be a big obstacle in the tournament as only 45 of the 144 players teed off at the Sandhurst Club. The greens and the bunkers filled up with
water hence calling off the play. Even though the ground staff and the PGA workers tried their best, the play couldn’t be continued.
For how much ever golf was played, seven players were in the lead. Kurt Barnes, Peter O’Malley, James Nitties, Todd Sinnott, Tom Power-Horan, Michael Faraone, and Tony McNaughton are leading at two under par. All these players posted two birdies on the first
three holes and have at least managed something out of the hindered Victorian Championship.
Anthony Summers was at one under and was playing amongst Rohan Blizzard and Peter Cookie. Reaching the fourth green, the trio had to wit for instructions. After a thirty minute wait, the players had to make their way to the south side of a course that resembled
more to an island. The rain had hampered the greens to such an extent that the Ground staff effectively worked together to make sort of a bridge. Eventually, the players had to utilize a cart and a bridge put together by the ground staff to make their way
across the course.
The weather has surely become a huge obstacle for the tournament and for the players. The bunker is bound to get heavy because of the rain and hence will provide even more of a challenger for the golfers. Also, the credibility of the game is also in question;
the fairways are very damp and hence will cause mud to stick to any balls landing on it.
“The aim of every tournament is to have a winner at the end," said tournament director Andrew Langford-Jones."And we'll do whatever we can do get it done."
The leading 78 players after eighteen holes will make the cut with the ties going in for the second round. After 36 holes then, the top 50 will go on to the final round. The condition of the course will now favour big hitters. This is because the fairways
are saturated and won’t provide much of a bounce.
Despite the rain and storm, talented golfers like Peter Senior, Alistair Presnell, Matt Griffin and Stephen Leaney are looking forward to teeing off tomorrow. The tournament will resume on Saturday in the morning with all first rounds to be completed by
mid-afternoon.
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