Anacona leads Women's Western as storms halt play

A pair of mid-afternoon storms forced the suspension of second-round play at the Women’s Western Amateur at Royal Melbourne Country Club in Golf, Ill., on Wednesday. When play was called, 57 players were still on the course.

Ela Belen Anacona, of Buenos Aires, Argentina, held the top spot on the leaderboard overall at 4-under with five holes still to play when the final weather stoppage came at 4:14 p.m.

The second round will resume at 6:30 a.m. Thursday, with the top 32 players after 36 holes qualifying for match play. The championship match is set for Saturday.

“I was confident from tee to green,” said Anacona, 18, an incoming freshman at the University of Arkansas. “I think that was the difference for me today.”

Anacona, started her second round on the 10th tee Wednesday. She had just hit her tee shot on the par-3 fifth – her 14th hole of the day – into a greenside bunker when play was suspended.

“I was tired, but I wanted to play anyway,” she said.

Sixty players finished their second round, with Antonia Matte, 16, of Santiago, Chile, posting the low 36-hole score of even-par 144. Matte is an incoming high school junior.

Sarah Shipley, of Hastings, Mich., was one back of Matte at 145 and is looking forward to the start of match play.

“I love match play, it is my favorite,” said Shipley, 21, a senior at the University of Kentucky. “I play more aggressive and comfortably. I have to give myself good chances.”

Play was stopped twice on Wednesday. The first suspension, called at 3:12 p.m., lasted just 45 minutes, with play resuming at 3:57 p.m. Just 17 minutes later, a second storm developed, forcing officials to suspend play for what proved to be the remainder of the day.

Report courtesy of Women's Western Golf Association