Weather Woes at Pelican: Will Golfers Finish on Time?

The first round of The Annika Driven by Gainbridge at Pelican was halted due to darkness on a cloudy day. Six players still need to complete their opening round, which will resume on Friday at 7:30 AM ET. This tournament is crucial for some LPGA pros, as it's their last chance to secure a spot in the 60-player field for the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship. The weather in Belleair is causing some concerns. The sky was cloudy on Thursday night, with a chance of light showers early Friday morning. Players might have to face an overcast sky and drizzles on the cut day. The Weather Channel predicts temperatures between 77F and 61F on Friday, with wind speeds ranging from 10MPH to 15MPH. The chance of rain is expected to drop to 15% from 31%.

Florida is known for its unpredictable weather. Belleair, home to the Pelican Golf Club, has faced hurricanes like Helene. Tournament host Annika Sorenstam has been supportive of the local community. Despite the weather forecast, fans are hopeful that rain won't spoil the weekend's play. For the final two rounds, Friday might see some light drizzle, but the sky is likely to clear up by the moving day. The chance of rain drops to 4% by night, with a sunny sky expected for the weekend. Only the top 65 and ties will advance to the weekend at The Annika. Charley Hull, fresh from ending a two-year title drought, led the first round with a 6-under 64. South Korean star Jiwon Jeon tied with Hull after scoring a hole-in-one on the par-3 3rd. This was Jeon’s third ace of the season. The second round begins at 7:00 AM ET on Friday.

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