Rain drowns first round

Heavy rain has flooded Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club causing the New Zealand strokeplay championship to be abandoned for yesterday’s opening round.

The championship on the Kapiti Coast has been reduced to 54-holes, after the famous links course looked more river delta than dry land.

Earlier yesterday the afternoon side of the draw was told that they would not be required to play. The morning groups waited in the clubhouse until tournament officials called off play.

The draw for today remains in place, though rain is forecast for much of this morning.

New Zealand’s top amateur golfer Daniel Hillier has yet to win the title, but has a chance to put that right on familiar greens.

Wellingtonian Hillier and defending champion Mark Hutson of North Harbour headline the men’s field.