Just before 3:00 p.m. on Friday, the Tour announced that due to the lengthy delays over the last 36 hours and the goal of completing the tournament by Sunday night, a 54-hole tournament was now no longer possible. The Volunteers of America LPGA Texas Classic will now focus on completing 36 holes by Sunday to ensure an official event. If the tournament is not completed by dark on Sunday, it will go into Monday.
The Tour made the decision to shorten to 36 holes in part because of fog in the forecast for Saturday, which could lead to more delays depending on visibility.
There will be no cut, but only the top 70 and ties will be paid out.
The first-round will start at 3:30 p.m.
Update VI (1:39 p.m.): the rain has stopped and after receiving over an inch of rain today, the course needs a bit more time to drain. Start time pushed to 3:00 p.m.
Update V (12:41 p.m.): rain has continued at Old American Golf Club so the start time has been pushed to 2:30 p.m. to give the course maintenance staff more time to decrease the amount of casual water.
Update IIII (11:57 a.m.): start time pushed to 2:00 p.m. to give crew more time to prepare the course for play.
Update III (9:53 a.m.): after surveying the course and with more rain in the forecast this morning in Texas, officials have determined that play will now begin at 1:30 p.m.
Update II (8:18 a.m.): moderate rain continues to fall at 1/4 inch per hour with some possible imbedded lightning. Practice facilities remain closed and now the earliest start time is 11:15 a.m.
Update (7:14 a.m.): officials notified players that they continue to track the storm moving through the area. Practice facilities will not open before 9:00 a.m. with the first anticipated tee times being 10:15 a.m.
The LPGA Rules Staff notified players just before 6:00 a.m. local on Friday, May 4 that the first-round of the Volunteers of America LPGA Texas Classic is delayed until 9:30 a.m. due to severe storms in the area. It was scheduled to begin at 7:00 a.m.
Thursday's scheduled first-round was cancelled after high winds and storms allowed just over an hour of golf to be played at Old American Golf Club. Scores were wiped away.
Around 10:30 a.m., LPGA officials notified players and tournament staff members that the Volunteers of America LPGA Texas Classic was going to be reduced to 54 holes. Officials are hoping to complete the 54-hole tournament by Sunday.
)
)
)
)
