The LPGA Tour Championship has had a little trouble, but it's not because of the players. Rain and darkness have delayed some play and cut some play short. On both Friday and Saturday, downpours caused tournament officials to decide cut the play down to 54 holes. On Sunday, the ground was still saturated. The second round was called, not because of rain, but lack of sunlight. It was getting too dark for the players to see properly.
Currently, Kristy McPherson is ahead with -8, and Jiyai Shin of South Korea is right behind her with -7. Three players are at -6 and tied for third, including Lorena Ochoa, who's in competition with Shin for a scoring title and player of the year. It would be her 4th year named as such, but to earn that she needs to either win, or make the top 3 with Shin coming in at only 11th place or lower. Their race for the scoring title Vare Trophy is much closer, as their scoring average is only fractions of a percentage point apart.
She had one hole left to play when the game was called. McPherson took the lead just before the play was stopped for darkness by finishing off a 5-under 67.
Play is scheduled to continue Monday morning with the second round. Ochoa is excited for play to continue and says she's very excited to see who's going to come out on top. Shin only moved ahead of her on Sunday, with 4 birdies in 7 holes and her last shot on Sunday, a holed putt. The birdie putt came on the par-5 16th, putting her a stroke above Ochoa.
If Shin can pull it out by winning the Vare Trophy, the tournament and player of the year, she'd be the first to take all 3 since 1978, when Nancy Lopez swept the awards. Shin says it's the most important day in her life and that she has a good shot, but it's going to be close.
McPherson, just one stroke in the lead as of Sunday, is trying for her first LPGA Tour win at age 28. Some of the 120 starting players have dropped out, including Michelle Wie who was expected to do well and had a 72 on Thursday. She sprained her ankle and decided to drop. Five other golfers dropped out before Sunday's play started back up.
Morale hasn't been high with many golfers, as concerns about getting flights out of Houston to make Thanksgiving travel were raised because of the heavy rains. And some weren't happy about the size of the tournament. They feel that too many golfers were allowed into the tournament, rather than it being the exclusive event it should with just the very top golfers out there.
Players who were cut short on Sunday will start Monday and then go directly into the final rounds. Normally there's a break between them, but with the lengthy delays already tour officials are eager to wrap up play before dark.
Photo Credits: Keith Allison
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