Henderson takes NZ Women’s Open lead

Final round halted

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Oct 1, (AP): Brooke Henderson took a big step towards her sixth LPGA Tour title in only six holes on Sunday, but will have to resume on Monday after rain, lightning and dangerous winds disrupted the final round of the New Zealand Women’s Open.

The 20-year-old Canadian leads the tournament by four shots at 17-under par from overnight leader Belen Mozo of Spain and American Brittany Lincicome.

Play was repeatedly suspended Sunday because of adverse weather conditions and finally called for the day at 5:30 pm local time when a violent squall brought heavy rain and winds which sent advertising boards flying across greens.

Tour officials ruled the tournament would remain 72 holes and players will return to the Windross Farm course Monday to complete their final rounds.

Henderson was 3-under Sunday after her six holes. She birdied the second, fourth and fifth holes to move past the faltering Mozo, who was 2-over after six holes when a trying day finally ended.

Lincicome was 2-under after six holes, with birdies at the second and fifth, and loomed as Henderson’s most likely challenger Monday.

Mozo, who led the tournament by five shots after the second round and by one entering the final round, struggled on the greens Sunday and had bogeys on her first and sixth holes to concede the lead to Henderson.

Norway’s Nicole Broch Larsen and China’s Jing Yan are tied for fourth place at 12-under after nine and seven holes respectively. Australia’s Su Oh was next at 11-under through nine holes while Hee Young Park of South Korea and Thidapa Swannapura of Thailand share seventh place at 10-under. and a two-shot win over a group including overnight leader Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines.

Green, 23, said his thoughts were with his grandfather, who passed away after he finished second at a tournament in South Korea earlier this year.

“The defeat in Korea was hard on me. I was trying so hard but this is the game of golf. You can’t force it,” Green said. “He really wanted to see me win and I really tried to win it for him in Korea. I didn’t and he passed away. It was tough because he was in Malaysia.

“I think his death pushed me to try harder and win. He was definitely with me today.”

This handout photo taken and received on Oct 1, 2017 by the Asian Tour shows Gavin Green of Malaysia posing with the trophy after winning the Mercuries Taiwan Masters golf tournament played at the Taiwan Golf

and Country Club in Taipei. (AFP)