Heavy Rain Forces Cancellation Of LPGA Tour's Walmart NW Arkansas Championship

With just the first round completed, scores after 18 holes will stand at the LPGA Tour event, although the tournament will be unofficial

The 18th green at Pinnacle Country Club
The Walmart NW Arkansas Championship has been cancelled because of heavy rain
(Image credit: Getty Images)
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The LPGA Tour’s Walmart NW Arkansas Championship has been cancelled due to heavy rain.

The poor weather had affected the first three days of the tournament, with just the first round being completed and only eight groups able to play at least one hole of the second round.

Despite that, there had been hope that the second round could continue on Sunday, with a decision initially due to be made further on as to whether to cut the event to 36 holes or attempt to play 54 holes, either of which would qualify it as an official event.

However, there was another deluge overnight at Pinnacle Country Club, scuppering the possibility of any more play.

A statement published on the LPGA Tour’s social media platforms began: “The course received 3.25" of rain last night and after having assessed the golf course and consulted with our meteorologist and superintendent, the golf course is unplayable.

“Based on the weather forecast for the remainder of today and all day Monday and Tuesday, it is highly unlikely that 36 holes could be completed to make It an official event.”

“As a result, the decision has been made to cancel the remainder of the tournament, with only players' 18-hole score counting.”

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"The tournament will be unofficial with no CME points awarded. More information about the purse distribution will come later today."

At the completion of the first round, Sarah Schmelzel co-led with Minami Katsu at eight under. While no CME points will be awarded, the statement went on to confirm that a generous prize money payout will still be distributed to the players, with every member of the field set to benefit.

Minami Katsu at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship

Minami Katsu co-led with Sarah Schmelzel after the first round

(Image credit: Getty Images)

It added: “For now, please know that our partners at Walmart and P&G have generously committed to pay out more than what's required in the event of a tournament cancellation.

“In addition, they've also committed to ensuring every player receives compensation regardless of where they stand on the leaderboard after 18 holes of play.”

The next event on the LPGA Tour schedule is the Lotte Championship, which begins on October 1st.

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Mike Hall
Mike Hall
News Writer

Mike has over 25 years of experience in journalism, including writing on a range of sports throughout that time, such as golf, football and cricket. Now a freelance staff writer for Golf Monthly, he is dedicated to covering the game's most newsworthy stories. 


He has written hundreds of articles on the game, from features offering insights into how members of the public can play some of the world's most revered courses, to breaking news stories affecting everything from the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to developmental Tours and the amateur game. 


Mike grew up in East Yorkshire and began his career in journalism in 1997. He then moved to London in 2003 as his career flourished, and nowadays resides in New Brunswick, Canada, where he and his wife raise their young family less than a mile from his local course. 


Kevin Cook’s acclaimed 2007 biography, Tommy’s Honour, about golf’s founding father and son, remains one of his all-time favourite sports books.

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