Australian Amateur: Wild weather delays 1st round

SEATON, Australia (Jan. 14, 2014) -- It was a day of extraordinary weather at the 2014 Australian Amateur Championships presented by Audi as play was suspended late in the afternoon with a number of players still to finish their first qualifying rounds at The Grange Golf Club. On a day where the mercury topped 40 degrees, play was first suspended for 40 minutes mid-afternoon as heavy storm clouds and lightning moved in the area. With the storm front clearing, players returned to their positions at 4.25pm local time. Play was suspended for a second time at 5.45pm local time as a second storm front approached the course. In the completed opening rounds of the men's championship, Kazuki Higa (JPN) is in a tie for the lead with Geoff Drakeford (VIC) and Dale Brandt-Richards (NSW) with the trio shooting 4-under par 68s. Todd Sinnott (VIC) and Denzel Ieremia (NZL) are further shot back after 3-under par 69s. In the completed opening rounds of the women's championship, So-Young Lee (KOR) leads following her 3-under par 69. World Number 2 amateur Su-Hyun Oh finished with a 2-under par 70 to be in second place. Grange Golf Club member Cassidy Evreniadis finished with an even par 72. The incomplete first rounds will recommence on Wednesday morning at 6.30am.