Worsening conditions have forced the afternoon half of the field from the course here at Coffs Harbour Golf Club. With the rain showing no let up, officials waited until 4.30pm before making a call to abandon play for the day.
The first round will resume tomorrow morning at 8.00am, with officials expecting to hold a shotgun start for the second round from 12.00pm.
Local Star Amelia Mehmet-Grohn, playing for the first time in front of her home course fans, made a flying start, and has the outright lead at five under. If she had any signs of nerves, they were soon dispatched with a pair of birdies on her second and third holes (the 11 and 12th ). A Dropped shot on the 13th only served to fire her up in the dreadful conditions, and she bounced back with an eagle on the par-five 14th and a further two more birdies on 15 and 16 to jump to the top of the leaderboard.
Freshly minted Concord Cup Champion Corey Lamb, too, found the conditions to his liking. The Vintage Golf Club’s young gun is at four under with seven holes to go. When play resumes tomorrow morning, he will have a chance to go to five under after rifling his tee shot on the par-three 12th to just over two metres.
Western Australia’s Brayden Becker, Queensland’s Tim Hart and Alex Edge are also still on course at three under, while Glenn Joyner is winding back the years, currently at two under alongside a brace of others.
1.00pm: What Weather? Will Marches to the lead
Queenslander William Bruyeres and Gold Coast’s Matt McLean share the lead as play resumes after a one-hour lightning delay.
Bruyeres had one hole to play when officials made the decision to blow the lightning siren, while McLean, who started his round at the 10th has just four holes to go.
The afternoon half of the draw have had their tee times pushed back by an hour, with several of the leading groups still to tee off.
12.00pm: Play Suspended
Play has been suspended here at Coffs Harbour as an intense storm cell passes over the course.
The slow-tracking system has moved in from the north-east, bringing with it heavy rain and several lightning bursts.
Officials expect to make a call on when play will resume shortly.
9.45am: Nine-Way Tie at The Top
There is a nine-way tie at the top of the leaderboard mid-way through the opening round of the North Coast Open at Coffs Harbour Golf Club.
Victorian Darren Bowman had the outright lead after getting to two-under, however a bogey on the par-four 7th has brought him back to the chasing pack.
There is a chance of a storm later, however, play began on time, and the weather continues to hold. The afternoon half of the draw will begin at 11.30am, with several of the fancied names going from the first tee.
Check back in for live scores and updates throughout the day
