BMW Australian PGA Championship falls victim to rain deluge.
A gloomy scene on a rained-out second day at Royal Queensland – image Australian Golf Media
With something like 250 mm of rain falling on the Royal Queensland Golf Club in the previous six days, something just had to give, and the victim would be round two of the BMW Australian PGA Championship.
To a large extent, the event’s ability to complete round one yesterday was quite an achievement, but, as Friday dawned, it became increasingly clear that the sodden conditions could not offer the field or spectators the conditions necessary for round two to get underway.
Various scenarios were considered as to how 54 holes could be fit into two days, but it became clear they could not. Around 11.30 am, the decision was made to reduce the event to 54 holes. Play in round two will commence at 6.00am on Saturday morning, with a cut made at the completion of play. The final round will be played on Sunday.
That is, of course, subject to a significant improvement in the weather although the prediction is for just that with the occasional shower on Saturday but much warmer and fine weather for Sunday.
And so the leaderboard remains as it was at the completion of play last evening, with 22-year-old Elvis Smylie’s opening round of 65 leaving him ahead by one over Frenchman Victor Perez, Swiss golfer, Joel Girrbach and Victorian and former Australian Amateur Champion Matias Sanchez.
Jason Day, Cam Smith, and Marc Leishman are part of the powerful group at 4 under and just two off the lead.
