Swiss Open reduced to 54 holes after Day 1 wash-out

FROM THE LADIES' EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
The fifth Deutsche Bank Ladies Swiss Open was reduced from 72 to 54 holes after the first day’s play was cancelled due to poor weather today.
Tournament officials, in conjunction with greenkeepers at Golf Gerre Losone, announced the decision at midday, after persistent rain made the course unplayable.
“Unfortunately weather conditions all over the region of Ticino, Southern part of Switzerland, yesterday forced the cancellation of the Pro-am when the course flooded after torrential rain at 12 o’clock. It was decided in the best interest of the Tournament at 12 o’clock that play would no longer be possible,” said the Ladies European Tour’s Tournament Director Andy Lott.
“Then following an excessive down pour through the night, the start of the main tournament was put back two hours to 10 o’clock early this morning as the course was unplayable. After further inspections and discussions with the Green staff a decision was made to put the start back even further to 12 o’clock midday with an announcement at 11 o’clock. At this time although the course had improved, further rain still made the course unplayable and the decision was put back to 12 o’clock.
“It was apparent that the water table was extremely high which left little room for the water to soak away and again after a further inspection and more light rain with more rain forecast it was decided to cancel today’s play and the event to be contested over 54 holes commencing Friday 18 June. There will be a cut to 60 plus ties following 36 holes and the final round due to finish on Sunday 20 June as scheduled. The starting times to remain as per the start sheet for round one.”
Mixed weather is forecast for Friday but conditions are set to improve over the weekend. The tournament was also reduced to 54 holes in 2008 when the last round was washed out and the event was won by the third round leader Norwegian Suzann Pettersen.