The
rains continue at LPGA's City of Hope
Rain flooded
Wachesaw East Golf Club for the second straight day, washing out another round
of the LPGA City of Hope Myrtle Beach Classic.
The tournament will finish without a cut and with a final-round shootout Sunday,
cutting the 72-hole event to 36 holes.
"I think this is
the first time in 20 years I remember this happening," Muffin Spencer-Devlin said.
Actually, it last happened in 1981 at the Olympic Gold Classic in City of Industry,
Calif. Sally Little carded a one-stroke victory after the final two rounds were
washed away.
It seemed unlikely Myrtle
Beach would share such a distinction. It's a golfer's dream with more than 100
courses and mild, sunny South Carolina temperatures.
But a storm front
stalled over the area, dumping at least an inch of rain the past two days. That's
on top of the 4 inches superintendent Dean Crouch said hit the course on Tuesday.
"We're
disappointed in the rain, but the course is draining well and we should have a
good finish," tournament director Rosemary Nash said.
So it's back to the mall or the movies for most players. Spencer-Devlin went to
an IMAX theater and rented the Oscar nominated film Elizabeth.
After a brisk workout,
she's going to rent Stepmom today.
On Friday, Gail
Graham and Michelle Estill saw Entrapment, with Sean Connery.
Graham, who opened
with a 75, said the time off lets you clear away the bad play.
"If you kind of
had a rough day, it gives you chance to regroup a little bit," she said.
Juli Inkster
and Amy Benz dealt with frozen grips and blowing hats well enough Thursday
to share the lead after 4-under 68s.
Players wore layers
of windshirts, sweaters and rain pants to make it through the opening round. Graham
dreaded dealing with that again.
"When you heard
it rain all night and you're sort of anticipating not playing, you're kind of
almost glad when you're not," Graham said.
The field of 142
-- Laura Baugh and Lenore Rittenhouse withdrew -- was reseeded for a typical Sunday
finish.
There are 18 players within
two shots of the lead and 55 at even-par 72 or better.
Karrie Webb, the
season's top money-winner, led a group of six at 69. She is looking for her third
straight Myrtle Beach title.