Washout sees Skarpnord awarded title

Marianne Skarpnord was awarded the South African Women’s Open title after yet more poor weather dashed any hopes of play in Durban.

The adverse weather conditions on Saturday meant tournament organisers reduced the competition from 54 holes to 36. But the inclement weather continued yesterday, with the second and final round delayed by two-and-a-half hours due to thunder and lightning and a further 15 minutes because of a waterlogged course.

Play was suspended again due to strong gusts of winds and because the conditions did not improve, only Friday’s scores were taken into account.

That meant Norway’s Skarpnord picked up her third title on the Ladies European Tour and her first in four years by virtue of her three-under-par 69 at Southbroom Golf Club. She finished one ahead of Finland’s Minea Blomqvist, South Africans Ashleigh Simon and Stacy Bregman, England’s Charley Hull, Sweden’s Camilla Lennarth, American Katie Burnett and Nina Holleder (Germany).

l Charley Hoffman took a two-shot lead into the final round of the PGA Tour RBC Heritage last night after surging clear of the field with a third-round 66 in South Carolina on Saturday. Hoffman enjoyed a blistering start with four birdies over his first five holes at Harbour Town Golf Links and advanced to 11 under par overall – two shots clear of nearest challenger Webb Simpson.