Rain greets golfers in US Open first round

MANILA, Philippines – The first round of the 2009 US Open was postponed Thursday (Friday in Manila) after heavy rain literally watered the Bethpage Black Course in Farmingdale, New York. More than an inch of rain saturated the 7,426-yard course, causing play to be suspended at 10:15 a.m. After waiting more than three hours for the rain to stop, USGA officials decided shortly before 2:00 p.m. to postpone play for the day. None of the 78 golfers in the morning wave completed their rounds. Lone Filipino bet Angelo Que finished at Hole No. 10 at two-over par and a share of 41st. He opened with a pair of bogeys but quickly made up with consecutive birdies in the next two. But the treacherous Black course was just too much for him as he made another two bogeys on the fifth and seventh. “The rain made the Blackpage tougher. I just have to fight through it when play resumes tomorrow," Que said in a telephone interview. Even Tiger Woods was not spared from this debacle. He was one-over-par through six holes. After the horns blew to suspend play, Woods played a greenside bunker shot at the par-4 seventh hole and decided to mark with fellow competitors Angel Cabrera and Padraig Harrington. Four players shared the lead at one under par with Jeff Brehaut, a 46-year-old from Los Altos, Calif., who competes on the Nationwide Tour, leading through 11 holes. Sweden’s Johan Edfors, Andrew Parr of Canada and Ryan Spears of Del City, Okla., had completed four, three and three holes, respectively. – GMANews.TV