Queensland’s Bree Arthur and ACT’s Nikki Campbell are in contention heading into the final round of the rain affected UniCredit Ladies German Open presented by Audi being played at Golfpark Gut Hausern near Munich.

After heavy rain led to the abandonment of second-round play on Friday, the Stipulated Round was reduced to nine holes due to the condition of the course.

There was a torrential downpour in the afternoon followed by steady rainfall and organisers did well to play on at all. The majority of play was completed before a suspension of two hours and 25 minutes from 4.50pm.

Arthur posted a one-under par 35 on the nine holes in play to go with her opening round of two-under-par 70 to be at three-under-par and outright eighth. While Campbell is a further shot behind and tied for ninth after also posting a 35.

The pair is chasing Rolex ranked World No. 26 Carlota Ciganda and England’s Charley Hull who share the lead on six-under-par.

At that point, 17-year-old rookie Charley Hull was two shots clear of Ciganda and Rebecca Hudson. However after returning to the course at 7.15pm, Ciganda birdied the 14th, which Hull then bogeyed, with a chip from the front of the green and two putts.

Both players missed short birdie putts by a fraction on the par-3 15th, playing as the last hole, which could have given them the outright lead, but were pleased to be in the clubhouse just before darkness fell over the course at Golfpark Gut Hausern near Munich.

Hull, who has had four runner-up spots in as many starts this season, said: “I started off really well. I started with a birdie and plodded my way around after that. I birdied the par-3, which is the 12th hole, then parred and bogeyed 14.”
Despite the weather, Ciganda, celebrating her 23rd birthday, had her own gallery of friends and family supporting, covered in plastic rain coats and Spanish flags. She said: “It has been a strange week. The last two days have been crazy and the weather wasn’t helping at all so you can’t really do anything. It was such a shame and unlucky because it’s a great event and great organisation, but when the weather is that bad and the course is almost unplayable, it’s hard.

Ciganda and Hull lead by one over England’s Rebecca Hudson, with another four players at four-under-par and right in the mix.

NSW’s Nikki Garrett moved up unto a share for 22nd position after a one-under-par 35 to be at one-under for the tournament. While fellow compatriot Rebecca Artis fell back down to one-under after a two-over 37. Victorian Stacey Keating is a further shot back at even par and tied for 37th. WA’s Whitney Hillier and New Zealand’s Cathryn Bristow are tied for 49th. Karen Lunn was the remaining Australian to make the cut. Lunn is tied for 59th at two-over.

The third round is scheduled to be played over nine holes on Sunday, starting from 9am. However the forecast is for more rain, so hopefully they will be able to finish the round.