Rain ruins the day in BMW International Open

Heavy rains forced players off the course in the BMW International Open in Pulheim, Germany

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SSP Chawrasia had completed eight holes in the third round before rains forced a suspension of the third round in the BMW International Open

June 26, 2016: The second-round leaders at the BMW International Open are set for 36 holes on Sunday after just four hours and nine minutes of play was possible on day three at Golf Club Gut Laerchenhof. It is going to be a busy Sunday with the third and fourth round tee offs separated by a meagre 45 minutes. SSP Chawrasia was 2-over through eight holes of the third round when rain forced players indoors. Chawrasia is lying even overall and will need to play 28 holes on Sunday. Jeev Milkha Singh had missed the cut earlier when he ended the second round at 6-over 150.

Leading duo Henrik Stenson and Raphaël Jacquelin were due to go out for the third round at 1.20pm with the third man at 11 under – Kiradech Aphibarnrat – due out nine minutes earlier with Thorbjørn Olesen, who was a shot further back.

Heavy rain had led to the suspension of play at 11.59am, however, and play was called off for the day at 4.00pm.

Play will recommence at 7.30am on Sunday morning with the final group going out at 8.42am and the final round then getting under way at 9.30am.

The players will go out in the same order as in round three but this time in three-balls, with the final group of Stenson, Jacquelin and Aphibarnrat hitting the final tee-shots off the first at 1.30pm.

“Today in the last four or five hours, there’s been nearly 100ml (of rainfall),” said Tournament Director David Williams. “So it’s been pretty constant and on top of what’s already a pretty wet golf course.

“We’ve been out to the third fairway a couple of hours ago and the entire fairway was unplayable. And even if it stopped, it would probably be a couple of hours before it would be anything like playable and the forecast is for it not to stop.

“So we then decided we had to try and make some sort of solution for the good of the tournament.

“This is going to continue until at least 7.00pm tonight. Hopefully after that, it’s going to start to peter out.

It should be relatively dry then through the night and into tomorrow – David Williams, Tournament Director

After a long day waiting for his group to tee-off, Stenson is hopeful that a full tournament will be completed on Sunday.

“I think it’s been rather wet today,” he said. “It continues to be that way. We play an outdoor sport, you get these every now and again.

We’ve got a pretty long day ahead of us tomorrow, but we’ll get it done eventually – Henrik Stenson

“When it was a heavy downpour, there was a flood coming over the 18th and the putting green was completely underwater. It’s not playable, and we’re just going to try to get all the golf done tomorrow instead.”

In the early proceedings, David Horsey and YE Yang made the big moves as they picked up four shots to move to five under for the week.

England’s Horsey had an eagle on the 13th and four birdies on his card, although he dropped shots on the fourth and tenth, while former US PGA Championship winner Yang had four birdies in his 13 holes.

France’s Clément Berardo was a shot ahead as he made two birdies in his first four holes.

South Africa’s Zander Lombard was yet to go out at nine under, with defending champion Pablo Larrazábal, Felipe Aguilar, Darren Fichardt and Joost Luiten all two shots further back.

Callum Shinkwin set the clubhouse target at two under after a 71 with only three players able to complete their third rounds on Saturday.

Spectators with tickets for Saturday’s play will be able to use those tickets on Sunday.

European Tour Release

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