The first round of the 2018 MCB Tour Championship – Seychelles will be contested over 12 holes after heavy rain delayed the start of play by almost five hours.
A two tee start began at 14:45 local time from the first and sixth holes with competitors playing in two balls.
Over the three rounds, competitors at the final event of the season are to complete holes 13 to 18 on buggies due to the mountainous layout of the final six holes at Constance Lemuria, which cannot be easily traversed on foot. Due to today's weather, the decision has been made to play just holes one to 12, reducing the tournament from 54 holes to 48 holes.
Tournament Director Simon Higginbottom said: “Due to the unrelenting heavy rain we experienced at Constance Lemuria this morning, we have taken the decision to play the first 12 holes of the golf course in the first round of the MCB Tour Championship – Seychelles and reduce the tournament to 48 holes.
“This is to ensure that we give this year’s competitors the opportunity to play as many holes as possible at the final event of the 2018 Staysure Tour season, and we intend to play all 18 holes during the second and third rounds – weather permitting.
“We feel it would be unsafe for our competitors to both walk the final six holes today, or drive buggies as initially intended, as the pathways will have been made dangerous by the weather conditions.”
