Washout means a 36-hole final day
HEAVY rain washed out play at the BMW International Open to leave the leaders facing 36 holes in today’s final day in Pulheim.
Just over four hours’ play was possible at Golf Club Gut Larchenhof before the downpours forced players off the course, which became heavily waterlogged and prevented any return later in the day as had initially been hoped by organisers.
Leaders Henrik Stenson and Raphael Jacquelin, tied on 11 under along with Kiradech Aphibarnrat, were due to be last out at 1.20pm on Saturday but play was suspended just before noon and abandoned at 4pm local time.
Play will recommence at 7.30am on Sunday with the last third-round group off at 8.42am. The final round then gets under way at 9.30am.
“In four or five hours there’s been nearly 100ml of rainfall,” tournament director David Williams said. “So it’s been pretty constant and on top of what’s already a pretty wet golf course.
“The third fairway was unplayable so we decided we had to try and make some sort of solution for the good of the tournament.”
ENGLAND’S James Heath takes a one-shot lead into today’s final round of the SSE Scottish Hydro Challenge at Macdonald Spey Valley Golf Club.
Overnight leader, Northern Ireland’s Chris Selfridge, shot a four-under-par third-round of 67 to stand on a 54-hole total of 196, 17-under-par.
However, this was eclipsed by Heath, who fired a six-under 65 to get to 18-under-par.
Swede Anton Karlsson shot a nine-under 62 to climb into third spot on 16-under 197.