Water torture

Sufficient rain has fallen during the Birdietime PGA Assistants’ Championship to keep a generous flotilla of craft afloat on Pleasington Golf Club’s greens and fairways.

Keeping the tournament from sinking without trace, however, is proving a problem for its organisers.

An early start on day two designed to make up the time washed away on day one ensured the tournament was going swimmingly and on schedule for the final 18 holes to be completed on day three.

That is until the fiercest downpour yet accompanied by the rumble of thunder and flashes of lightning forced play to be curtailed for the second day running.

All of which left officials with two options. One was to bin the second round, which had been completed by just 20 of the 118-strong field and base the cut for the third and final round on the first 18-holes.

Two was for another early start on day three, complete the second round, cut the field to the top 40 and ties and, weather permitting, complete The PGA’s longest running tournament in its prescribed 54-holes. Which is where we are. 

Of those who have completed two rounds, Christopher Croucher (above) from Cottesmore Golf Club, Sussex, is on seven-under and St Enodoc Golf Club’s Joe Cruse is on three-under.

Croucher, who opened with a two-under-par round of 69 followed up with a five-under-par 66. The round of the tournament thus far, however, is Christopher Blunden’s six-under-par 65.

Blunden, an Assistant at Sandford Springs Golf Club, Basingstoke, has yet to start his second round. By contrast, Rustington Golf Club’s Michael Bullen and Jacob Hunter of Broadstone Golf Club are on five-under after playing 12 and three holes of their second round respectively.

• Categories:
• PGA Assistants' Championship