T-storms hit Australian PGA

Wilkinson: Solid

Leaders:
-6 T Wilkinson (18)
-6 P Wilson (14)
-5 G Ogilvy (18)
-5 R Lee (18)
-5 P Senior (11)

Related links

News

• Australian PGA - collated scores
• Allenby - I'm doing it for Mum
• Scott wiped out of Aussie PGA

Also see

• EuroTour Schedule
• World Rankings
• Golf live on Sky Sports

Thunderstorms forced the Cadbury Schweppes Australian PGA Championship to be suspended midway through the opening round in Coolum.

Half the 156-man field was still out on the course when the klaxon sounded just after 3pm, and play will resume early on Friday morning with officials hoping to get the first two rounds completed.

New Zealand's Tim Wilkinson leads the way in the clubhouse on six under par after a round of 66, defying winds that continued to strengthen throughout the day.

The 30-year-old, who made a successful transition to the US PGA Tour in 2008 with three top-five finishes, went out in 31 and reached seven-under at one point.

But his sole blemish came at the par-four 18th to leave him tied for the lead with Australian Peter Wilson, who was stranded on the 15th when play was halted.

Annoyed

"Yeah it was good, I wanted to get off to a good start because the morning conditions it's always a little bit calmer," said the left-hander.

"I birdied the first two holes and then missed a couple of easy birdies on four and five, I was a little bit annoyed.

"(It was) solid, if I could do that for three more days I'd be happy. It was pretty straightforward, I hit a lot of good shots and there's just the one tee shot on the last I'd like back, that's it."

Wilson birded every hole on the front nine bar the second and eighth but a momentum stopping double-bogey at the 13th halted his charge, a par at the next steadying the ship before the storms came.

Former US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy and Richard Lee are in the clubhouse on five under par following rounds of 67, with veteran Peter Senior on the same score through 11 holes.

Brett Rumford and John Senden were among those to complete their rounds, each returning 69s, while American John Daly signed for a one-under-par 71.

Defending champion Peter Lonard shot 70 while Tim Clark of South Africa was also at two-under after nine holes before play was suspended.