FLOODED GREENS: Round 2 Obidos Classic play suspended

LATEST ROUND 2 NEWS (Tuesday). Play suspended because prolonged heavy rain has flooded some of the greens. Play has restarted with a new list of starting times well into the evening. The last Round 2 starting time is now 7.20pm.


Round 1 of the Obidos International Open in Portugal ended on a 3-way tie on Monday.

Rui Morris (Portugal), Andrea Saracino (Italy) and Nicolas Aparicio (France) led a pack of 125 players to finish the day at -4.

This is the first time in its history the Alps Tour holds a tournament in Portugal. The Obidos International Open, co-sanctionned by the Portugal Pro Golf Tour, is taking place thru Wednesday at the Guardian Bon Sucesso Golf , located about 100 kilometers north of Lisbon.  The €30,000 prize money tournament is played over 54 holes of traditional stroke.

«  I started really well making birdies on hole 10 and then on holes 12 and 13 » Morris, who teed off the first Round  from hole 10, said. Morris is part of a group of Portuguese players invited to play on the Alps Tour because the tournament is taking place in their country 

« It gave me some good feelings and I just keep going, trying to keep my game the same throughout the day » he added.

«  I played very good today »  said Andrea Saracino who finished the day with 4 birdies. «  I hope the sun will shine tomorrow and I hope to continue playing well » Saracino added, smiling.

« It was not easy to start because it was really windy » Aparicio said. «  I made my first birdie on hole 5. I hit a really good 7 iron just one meter to the hole and then I was more relaxed, I hit the ball really good » Aparicio said. The Frenchman had a total of 5 birdies and a bogey.

«  All day we had a lot of wind, it was not easy because if you don’t hit the ball good, it goes too much on the left or too much on the right » Aparicio said.

Weather conditions were indeed particularly difficult today with strong winds and rain showers in the afternoon. Temperatures reached the mid 10s. Rain is expected Tuesday and Wednesday.

«  Tuesday's weather conditions are not going to be great, we know that, but we just need to play as the weather allows you and try to play as well as you can» Morris explained.

«  I’m feeling a little bit nervous because I’m not used to be in this position (co-leader). On the other hand, I’m very happy because of my golf round, it’s very important to start a tournament like this with a good round so I just feel good at the moment » Morris said.

« It’s the first time we’re working with the Alps Tour, Portugal Pro Golf Tour wants to improve and is looking for new partnerships » Jose Correia, President of PGA Portugal said. «  We hope this partnership will grow in the future and we hope to see more tournaments in this country » he added.

The Obidos International Open is the 4th tournament of the Season. At the end of Round 2 on Tuesday, a cut will see the top 40 and ties qualify for the final day of the tournament.

Craig Lawrie, son of the 1999 Open champion, had a 74 to be T44 overnight. Fellow Scots Ewen Ferguson and Daniel Young scored 75 and 76 respectively to be T55 and T75 respectively.

Results after Round 1

Starting List for Round 2

TWO-TEE START