Lauren Walsh only managed to complete 12 holes before heavy rainfall and a flooded golf course lead to the suspension of round one of the Wistron Ladies Open at Sunrise Golf and Country Club in Korea, but it was enough for her to take a share of the lead at -4.
The tournament was due to start on Thursday, but after a course inspection on Wednesday, the tournament committee confirmed it had been reduced to 54 holes. Taking into account the further heavy rainfall on Friday, it will now be contested over 36-holes.
Walsh, who started the day on the 10th tee, shined early on with back-to-back birdies on the 12th and 13th. A further birdie on the 16th meant she was three-under par through her first seven holes. Despite dropping a shot on the 17th, she pulled it back with another two birdies before conditions deteriorated further and play was halted.
Fortunately, as Walsh currently sits 11th in the LET Order of Merit and would reap considerable benefits if she can push her way inside the top 10 at the conclusion of the campaign in late November, it will still count towards the season’s rankings so she will be hoping to continue to build on the strong opening dozen holes.
Alongside her at -4 is Thailand’s Kornkamol Sukaree, with whom she was paired, with Finland’s Noora Komulainen in solo third place a shot behind having played just eight holes.
Round one will resume at 06:40 local time on Saturday and Sunday’s final round will proceed in leaderboard order with a two-tee start.
FULL SCORING
