PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- Shanshan Feng will have to wait a day to begin defence of her LPGA Championship title. A steady rain punctuated by heavy downpours and an occasional bolt of lightning forced the postponement of Thursdays first round at Locust Hill Country Club. The LPGAs second major of the year now will begin Friday morning, the second round will be staged Saturday, and the players will attempt to complete 36 holes on Sunday. "The problem became the golf course," said Sue Witters, director of tournament competition for the LPGA. "We had numerous greens under water, fairways puddling. If it could have stopped raining, we would have had a shot." More than a half-inch of rain had fallen by mid-morning, and it was still raining hard more than two hours after the noon announcement of the postponement of play. Locust Hill officials figured the course could take up to three-quarters of an inch of rain, but the weather system stretched 140 miles and wasnt expected to completely pass through for seven hours. That proved to be too much for an area that had received over 4 inches of rain in the past week and a half. "We went as long as we could," Witters said. The overnight forecast called for a break, affording the grounds crew a chance to get the course in shape. Scattered showers were expected Friday morning and there was a 20-30 per cent chance of a thunderstorm during the day, but Witters said she was confident the course would be OK. "Id like to believe today was our worst day," she said. "The goal is to get 72 holes, but its got to stop raining." Witters also said Monday was still on the table, but with no rain predicted for Sunday and the longest day of the year looming in two weeks she was hopeful there would be enough daylight to complete two rounds on Sunday. "We think we can play golf until 9 oclock," Withers said. "That gives us extra room, and well need it. Im not nervous yet. I wish we could have gotten some golf in today." The one-day break was welcome news for some players since it came during a stretch of seven tournaments in a two-month span, including two majors. "Its definitely tough because youre excited to get going, but to be honest with you Im very tired with it being my fourth week in a row," said Brittany Lang, who planned to spend the afternoon trying on wedding dresses in preparation for the big day next January. "Its actually kind of good for me. Im sure a lot of girls are definitely ready to get going." When the first round begins, the focus of every player will be on one thing -- avoiding the rough that was nearly 4 inches high before the rains hit. "It is so hard to hit out of wet rough like that," Lang said. "Its nearly impossible. That rough, I think, is going to be horrendous after this much rain." "If youre hitting the ball well, you can score well," Paige Mackenzie added. "You just have to be on your game every single shot. It does not allow any mistakes at all." The inclement weather continued a streak that began two weeks ago at the Bahamas LPGA Classic. The course there was closed for two days because of severe flooding, and when the tournament finally got under way it was shortened to 12 holes. The LPGA Tour was determined to play with two new title sponsors and devised a 12-hole route that would allow the players three rounds to reach 36 holes and make it an official event. Last week, high winds and tough greens created havoc. The flooding in the Bahamas was caused by a foot of rain in about five hours. It wasnt nearly that bad at Locust Hill on Thursday, but it, too, wasnt pretty. "Unfortunately, its just part of the game," Mackenzie said. "Anybody thats played, whether its professional golf or amateur golf, you go through events like this. "I learned very quickly my rookie season when only 18 holes were played in Arkansas in a four-day span. Theres going to be surprises like this. Were a pretty flexible tour. I think the hardest part is on the rookies. They want to go play. Its a major." Hunter Renfroe Padres Jersey . LUCIE, Fla. Hunter Renfroe Jersey .com) - The Calgary Flames aim to bounce back from their first regulation home loss of the campaign on Friday night when they host a Detroit Red Wings club that they swept in three meetings a season ago. http://www.padressale.com/padres-wil-myers-jersey/ . Mitch Holmberg added a goal and three assists. Connor Chartier also scored for the Chiefs (3-0-0). Luke Harrison spoiled Garrett Hughsons shutout bid with a power-play goal at 13:17 of the third period. The Spokane goaltender finished with 28 saves, including a Brandon Fushimi penalty shot in the second period that would have tied the game 1-1. Ian Kinsler Padres Jersey . LOUIS -- Valtteri Filppula assisted on three of Tampa Bays four goals, and the Lightning beat the St. Manuel Margot Padres Jersey . He just needed to be his best twisting, turning acrobatic self. "I didnt need to be anybody else, I just needed to be myself and be aggressive," said Burks, who scored a career-high 34 points to spark the Utah Jazz to a 118-103 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Monday night. LOS ANGELES -- Nneka Ogwumike scored 17 of her 23 points in the first half, Candace Parker made a key block in the closing seconds and the Los Angeles Sparks held off the Indiana Fever 94-88 on Wednesday night.Los Angeles was ahead 80-60 with 6:22 remaining but Indiana stormed back.Briann January made two free throws with 21.6 seconds left to pull Indiana to 89-85, and after Candace Parker missed two free throws, Tiffany Mitchell sank a 3-pointer to make it 89-88. Los Angeles pushed it to 91-88 after two free throws by Essence Carson and Parker blocked Januarys 3-pointer on the other end. Parker sealled it with a 3-point play.dddddddddddd.Ogwumike was 10 of 14 from the field and Parker finished with 20 points for Los Angeles (17-1), which is ranked first in the AP power poll. Jantel Lavender and Kristi Toliver each scored 15 points for the Sparks, who jumped out to an 11-0 lead and never trailed.Mitchell made four 3-pointers and scored 20 points for eighth-seeded Indiana (7-11). The Fever scored just 30 points in the first half but had 39 points in the fourth quarter. ' ' '
