Bad weather halts Australian PGA Championship

Bad weather intervened at the Australian PGA Championship forcing play to be suspended with half the 156-man field still out on the course

Tim Wilkinson

Bad weather intervened at the Australian PGA Championship forcing play to be suspended with half the 156-man field still out on the course.

The klaxon sounded just after 3pm due to thunderstorms, but officials hope to get the first two rounds completed with an early start on Friday.

Defending champion Peter Lonard shot 70 and South Africa’s Tim Clark – who finished tied fourth at last week’s Australian Masters - was also at two-under after nine holes before play was halted.

Meanwhile, Australia’s Robert Allenby is seeking a fourth Australian PGA Championship, a victory that he hopes to dedicate to his terminally ill mother who is battling lung and kidney cancer.

"I didn't think I was ready, mentally and emotionally, to play this week," said Allenby.

"I said to mum on Tuesday morning when we were having breakfast before I flew up here that I was happy to stay at home.”

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