Seta Golf Course was flooded by a tropical storm, canceling Saturday’s play at the Toto Japan Classic.
Yoshimasa Nakano/Getty Images
of LPGA Tour is about as far from hurricane-battered Florida as you can get this week, but if you thought that made them safe from bad weather, think again.
This week’s LPGA event is the Toto Japan Classic, which is being played at Seta Golf Course. Unfortunately, something else is also making its presence known in that area of ​​the world this week: Typhoon Kong-rey.
On Thursday, the powerful storm battered Taiwan and Indonesia, packing winds of 125 mph, equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean. according to CNN. It was the strongest storm to hit Taiwan in three decades and left flooding, death and destruction in its path.
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The storm decreased in intensity to a tropical storm as it moved toward Japan, but the LPGA was not completely spared. Torrential rains washed over Seta Golf Course and on Friday night the LPGA and JLPGA issued a joint statement announcing that Saturday’s play would be canceled due to the storm and the tournament would be reduced to 54 holes.
You can read the full statement below.
“The LPGA Rules, JLPGA Rules and Seta Golf Course Teams have assessed the golf course and have determined that Seta Golf Course will be closed on Saturday due to the effects of Tropical Storm Kong-Rey.
“The third round of the TOTO Japan Classic has been suspended until Sunday, November 3 and the tournament has been shortened to 54 holes. The pairings will remain the same for Sunday, but the start times will be adjusted.”
As the statement revealed, play will resume on Sunday (Saturday night in the US), but this will be the last round played in the tournament.
Through two rounds, Japan’s Hana Wakimoto holds a two-shot lead over two players tied at 11 under: the two-time major winner Ariya Jutanugarn and American Yealim Well.
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