Weather cuts short play at Australian PGA

Heavy rain and lightning severely disrupted then caused the abandonment of the opening day's play of the Australian PGA golf tournament at Coolum on Queensland's Sunshine Coast on Thursday.

Just 11 players completed their first rounds before play was first halted at about 11:20 a.m. (0120 GMT), then abandoned all together at 3:00 p.m. with Richard Swift and Luke Hickmott tied for the lead at four-under-par.

Both have yet to complete their rounds.

They were one clear of a group of four players which includes Australian Open winner Robert Allenby, who are also yet to complete their first rounds.

Richard Ball and Bradley Iles were the clubhouse leaders on one-under-par 71.

Hickmott, who had completed 16 holes, had a jumpy start after bogies on the fifth and seventh holes before he fired three consecutive birdies from the 14th until play was suspended.

Swift picked up birdies on the second, fourth, seventh and ninth, before he completed his 11th hole when play was suspended.

U.S. Open champion Michael Campbell of New Zealand and tournament favourite Stuart Appleby had not even teed off, while 2003 U.S. PGA winner Shaun Micheel was one-over through 12 holes.

Champion Peter Lonard was four-over through 13 holes.

Play will begin early on Friday with the first groups teeing off at 04:30 a.m.

Two-time British Open champion Greg Norman, meanwhile, has been made a life member of the PGA of Australia, silencing last week's criticism by fellow professional Mark Hensby he had not done enough for Australian golfers or the Australasian tour.

"This honour is only bestowed on a select few individuals who are judged by their peers to have made a significant contribution to golf and the PGA in particular," the association said in a statement.

"At the end of a week of controversy whereby Norman's contribution to Australian golf was questioned, this accolade once and for all puts to rest any doubt that Greg has made an outstanding contribution to the PGA."

December 1, 2005

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