Golf roundup: Play again suspended in LPGA season opener, which will be cut to 54 holes

Brooke Henderson bogeyed the first hole to drop into a tie for the lead Friday before the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic was suspended for the day — and later cut from 72 to 54 holes — because of high wind that moved balls on an exposed green.

Sustained 30-35 mph wind gusting to the low 40s hit the Ocean Club Golf Course at Paradise Island, forcing officials to stop second-round play at 8:39 a.m. They shortened the season-opening event to 54 holes in an attempt to complete play Sunday, and didn’t rule out a Monday finish.

“Yesterday we were able to play and complete the round, but we did have an isolated ball move here and there, but it wasn’t much and we could get it right back into play,” said Sue Witters, the LPGA’s vice president of Tour rules and competition. “This morning was a different story. The winds are up from what they were and we got to the point on 13 where we could not get a ball to stay at rest on the green.”

On Thursday, Henderson shot a bogey-free five-under 68 in high wind to take a one-stroke lead. The bogey on the par-4 first dropped the 20-year-old Canadian into a tie with Australia’s Sarah Jane Smith and Spanish rookie Luna Sobron Galmes. Smith and Sobron Galmes will begin their rounds Saturday when morning wind of 25-32 mph with gusts to 38 was expected.

“Tomorrow, hopefully, will be more like yesterday,” Witters said. “The winds will come down a bit, and then Sunday is even better than that. Sunday should be out of the four days the least windy, but it will still be windy.”

Donaldson maintains lead in Dubai

Welsh golfer Jamie Donaldson followed his opening 62 with a solid three-under-par 69 to take the clubhouse lead in the weather-interrupted second round of the Dubai Desert Classic.

Tee times were delayed for nearly three hours because of thick fog. That led to none of the afternoon groups, including Rory McIlroy and defending champion Sergio Garcia, being able to finish their second round when darkness suspended play.

Donaldson was on 13-under 131 at the halfway stage, with Li Haotong second, one shot behind after a consecutive 66s. Branden Grace shot 65 to take third in the clubhouse at 11 under.

Miguel Angel Jimenez showed at 54 he could still compete with the youngsters as he moved to 10 under with a 68. Thomas Aiken (67) was tied with Jimenez.

Among those still on the course, McIlroy was 10 under after 11 holes. Garcia and Henrik Stenson were six- and seven-under par respectively playing alongside McIlroy.

Tommy Fleetwood was two under for the day after 10 holes to move to a five under total.