Golf

Mandela Championship reduced to 54 holes

Organisers forced to make decision after more delays due to rain

Oliver Bekker of South Africa and his caddie walk over a bridge during the weather delayed first round of the Nelson Mandela Championship. Photograph: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images
Oliver Bekker of South Africa and his caddie walk over a bridge during the weather delayed first round of the Nelson Mandela Championship. Photograph: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images
Fri Dec 13 2013 - 09:43

The Nelson Mandela Championship was reduced to a 54-hole tournament on Friday due to the wet conditions that have limited the early action in Durban.

Tournament organisers have had heavy downpours to contend with that have caused major interruptions, with scheduled play on Wednesday and Thursday hampered by the rain that led to waterlogging.

Again there was a delay on day three of a four-day tournament that was brought forward by a day to its Wednesday start to avoid a clash of its final round and Sunday’s funeral of former South African president Mandela.

The handful of players who had not completed their first rounds were due out from 6am local time, but they did not make it to the tee until 9am at the Mount Edgecombe Country Club.

READ SOME MORE

South African Oliver Bekker had been six under through 14 holes, and despite dropping a shot immediately on Friday he recovered it at 17 to complete a round of 64 that left him two behind leader Daniel Brooks, the Englishman who lit up day one with an eight-under 62.

Defending champion Scott Jamieson of Scotland was two over after 13 holes, and it got no better on day three as he signed for a three-over 73.