Hannah Green on top at rain-delayed golf’s BMW Ladies Championship

SEOUL – Australia’s Hannah Green made four birdies on the front nine and held a two-stroke clubhouse lead on Oct 18 at the BMW Ladies Championship when second-round play was suspended in Paju, South Korea.

Persistent rain showers throughout the day finally left the course at Seowon Valley Country Club unplayable.

None of the 78 players in the field completed the round, which will conclude on the morning of Oct 19, before the start of the third round.

Green, 27, is at 12 under overall after nine holes on Oct 18, two ahead of South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai, who shot two under at the turn when action was halted.

New Zealand’s Lydia Ko (three under through 13 holes), Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen (three under through 11), South Korea’s Choi Hye-jin (two under through 10) and South Korea’s Jenny Shin (even through nine) are tied for third place at eight under.

The 27-year-old Ko is aiming to extend a scintillating run of form that saw her win Olympic gold in Paris in August and end an eight-year Major drought at the Women’s British Open at St Andrews two weeks later.

Seven players, including the United States’ Ryann O’Toole (four under through 14), share seventh place at seven under.

Australia’s defending champion Minjee Lee was on four under overall after finishing 13 holes at one over.

Green, the winner of the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore and LA Championship this season, birdied the par-five first hole, then added consecutive birdies at Nos. 4, 5 and 6.

Buhai, 35, logged four birdies on the front nine but carded a double-bogey seven on the par-five eighth hole.

She is looking to win a tournament for the third year in a row.

On the men’s PGA Tour, Taylor Pendrith of Canada fired a 10-under 61 to leap out to a three-shot lead after round one of the Shriners Children’s Open on Oct 17 in Las Vegas.

When play was suspended due to darkness at TPC Summerlin, a whopping 10 players were tied for second at seven-under 64.

Eight players had yet to finish their rounds, including Joe Highsmith, who was six under through 17 holes and will have a 23-foot putt for eagle at his finishing hole, the par-five ninth.

Pendrith tied his career-low 18-hole score on Oct 17 by making five birdies on each nine.

The 33-year-old started on the back nine and sank a 12½-foot birdie putt at No. 11. After that, he did not need to make a putt longer than 10 feet, as his approaches were on point.

Pendrith nearly holed out for eagle at the par-four fourth, leaving himself a few inches for birdie.

“Got off to a good start,” Pendrith said.

“Was able to get that groove with my driver and found a lot of fairways. From there, I had a lot of good numbers today.

“Feel like we had the same number a few times and I was able to hit some close wedges. Made a lot of putts inside 10 feet.”

Pendrith won his first PGA Tour title in May at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson and competed in September’s Presidents Cup for the International team.

“The confidence level is up for sure,” he said.

“Was able to win this year and have some really solid finishes at some big events, and that gives you a lot of confidence.

“I would say my putting has improved the most. It’s the biggest improvement in my game from the last couple of seasons.

“I’ve been able to roll in some nice putts. Just seeing them go in gives you more confidence.”

Joseph Bramlett and Bud Cauley are two of the 10 players tied at 64, alongside J.T. Poston, Mark Hubbard, Doug Ghim, Canadian Ben Silverman, Rico Hoey of the Philippines, Garrick Higgo of South Africa, England’s Harry Hall and Germany’s Matti Schmid.

Another 10 players were in the clubhouse with six-under 65s. Rickie Fowler is not far behind after carding a 66. Tom Kim of South Korea, the tournament’s two-time defending champion, opened with a 69. REUTERS, AFP