First days play washed out

The top six players in the Senior Tour Championship never even finished a hole Thursday, when rain at Gaillardia Golf and Country Club washed out the first round.

None of the 30 players in the field completed nine holes, thanks to a steady rain that made the course unplayable. The round was suspended at 12:51 p.m. EDT.

Rodger Davis of Australia and Walter Hall were leading at 2-under par, through eight and seven holes, respectively. Hale Irwin and Bob Gilder, the tour's top money winners, never teed off.

The first round will resume Friday at 10 a.m. The second round is scheduled to get under way at 11:45, meaning each of the top-30 money winners on the elder circuit will have to play at least 28 holes in one day.

"I told my wife, I said, 'Everything's done at 7:30 (p.m.), rounding out by 8:30 and clear the house,'" said Doug Tewell, who didn't complete a hole. "'We're going to bed early. It's going to be a long day tomorrow.'"

The forecast is good for Friday, with rain tapering off Thursday night. However, there is a possibility the season-ending 72-hole event could end Monday.

"They are prepared that they may be playing on Monday," said Senior PGA Tour tournament director Bruce Sudderth.

Thursday's suspension was the first in the 13-year history of the event, which is being held at Gaillardia - known for its windy conditions - for the second year in a row. Gilder is the defending champion. Irwin is looking to become the first player in Senior Tour history to earn $3 million in one season. He has collected $2,852,303 - $9,642 short of his own single-season record set in 1998.

The oldest player in the limited field, Irwin needs to finish fourth or better this weekend to eclipse the plateau. First prize at the $2.5 million event is $440,000.

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