Webb leads rain delayed ANZ Ladies Masters

BY iseekgolf.com | ALPG Tour | 2003 ANZ Ladies Masters | Round Two | 22 Feb 2003

Karrie Webb leads the rain delayed AUD$800,000 ANZ Ladies Masters on Australia’s Gold Coast. Webb, who is looking for her fifth Masters win in six years, was among 48 golfers forced by poor weather to finish the last two holes from the second round on Saturday morning.

Saturday’s expected third round was washed out by rain, which eventually forcing organizers to reduce the tournament to 54 holes. The weather forecast for Sunday is thunderstorms with a maximum of 28 degrees.

Webb made a 8 metre par putt at the 18th to follow her par at 17 that left her at -6 (66) and a one stroke ahead of England’s Laura Davies. Australian Rebecca Stevenson sits alone in third place at -8, two strokes back from the lead, following a -4 (68).

Four golfers are tied for fourth and three strokes from the lead including first-round leader Patricia Meunier Lebouc, Brenda Ormsby, Janice Moodie and Mexico’s Lorena Ochoa.

Several hours after Webb closed her second round, the rain hadn’t stopped, play in Saturday’s third round was abandoned, forcing organizers to play the final 18 off two tees for the final round on Sunday. “The course was pretty saturated,” said LET official Andy Lott. "We didn’t think it would be fair to send the players out in those conditions".

Webb was one of 48 golfers who had to finish their second rounds in light rain on Saturday morning after rain-delayed play for over 2 1/2 hours on Friday. The second round cut of 144 was the lowest in Ladies European tour history, just one shot off the mark set at the 2002 Women’s British Open.