Rain washes out Saturday's play

Last year, they enjoyed three sunny days of golf at the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship.

Things have returned to normal in 2002.

On Saturday, the fourth rain delay in two days at Eagles Landing Country Club prompted LPGA Tour officials to shorten the event from 54 to 36 holes.

``I'm so frustrated,'' tournament host Nancy Lopez said. ``This is awful. And just think, we've been in a drought.''

The Atlanta-area event has been plagued by stormy weather throughout its 11-year existence. This is the sixth year that rain has stopped play, while the final round in 1999 was contested in a steady drizzle.

``It's unbelievable,'' Laura Davies said. ``If there's one tournament that deserves a really great week, it's this one. The course is great. ... The purse has gone through the roof. It's a great field. But we're not able to show what we can do.''

Kelly Robbins, who hasn't played since Friday afternoon, will return to the course Sunday trying to protect a two-stroke lead.

She opened with an 8-under 64, then sat around Saturday hoping to get on the course. The rain wouldn't let her.

``We like Atlanta and love playing here,'' Robbins said. ``But it's a shame we can't play because of the havoc created by the weather.''

Robbins has never won the tournament, but has finished second twice and sixth three other times.

``There is nothing we can do about the weather,'' she said. ``It's a shame, because we could have showcased a lot of good golf. We still will, but now it's just a little less.''

Robbins was among 81 players who didn't even get on the water-logged course. They were the lucky ones.

``It's part of golf, I guess, but it's very frustrating,'' said Pearl Sinn, who struggled to a 79 in an opening round that stretched over two days. ``I've been out here eight or nine hours and I've played 11 holes. I guess you would call that slow play.''

Robbins made it through a 1-hour, 20-minute delay Friday morning. But 72 players -- half the field -- weren't able to finish when a howling thunderstorm halted play in the afternoon.

Defending champion Annika Sorenstam, the most dominating player on the LPGA Tour, was among those affected by the stormy weather, which inundated the course with 1 3/4 inches of rain the first day alone.

She and the others returned to the course early Saturday -- in cool, drizzly conditions -- to finish the round. But play lasted only 2 1/2 hours before the rain intensified, causing the third stoppage of the tournament.

After waiting around for nearly 2 1/2 hours, the golfers went sent back to the course again. This attempt was downright fruitless, lasting just 52 minutes before the showers returned.

At this point, the course was a mess. Small rivers snaked through the fairways. The bunkers resembled small ponds. The driving range was better suited for a tractor pull.

``You try to keep plugging along,'' Donna Andrews said. ``But you reach a point where it's not feasible to finish.''

Tournament officials waited more than two hours before making the call. Sunday's forecast looked promising except for morning fog, but there's a chance of additional rain the following day.

Contributing to the decision to shorten the tournament: Many players have other commitments on Monday.

``I'm supposed to fly to Japan (for a tournament),'' Karrie Webb said. ``If we played here Monday, I'd miss the pro-am in Japan.''

Sorenstam managed a 69 in the first round, but struggled through the slop Saturday. She was 1 over through No. 7, leaving her six strokes behind Robbins with just 11 holes to play.

Sorenstam has won twice, finished second twice and placed seventh in her other LPGA tournament this season. In addition, she beat Webb in a non-tour event in Australia.

Those players who started the second round will pick up where they left off. The others will be re-paired according to their opening-round scores, allowing Robbins to finish up with two of her closest challengers, Laura Diaz and Juli Inkster.

They managed to complete the first round on Friday, each shooting 66. Webb and Se Ri Pak, who were impacted by the weather, got to 6 under as well.

Webb opened with a 67 and knocked off another stroke before rain drove her from the course, leaving her with 14 holes to play.

Pak, who shot 69 in the first round, had three birdies in the first seven holes of what now becomes the final round.

Seven other players are at 5 under.

Divots

Connie Masterson was the only player to withdraw Saturday. She was 6 over when she bowed out due to an unspecified illness. ... Sophie Gustafson, who won the tournament in 2000 and lost to Sorenstam in a playoff last year, is seven strokes behind Robbins. ... While there won't be a cut, only the top 70players (including ties) will be paid.

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