Wright atop Bahamas LPGA Classic


Australia's Lindsey Wright has carded nine birdies and only one bogey over 24 holes of the abbreviated Bahamas LPGA Classic.

Because over 15 inches of rain fell on the course Tuesday, the $1.3 tournament is using only 12 holes of the Ocean Club course as the other six are still underwater or damaged. In order to make the results officials, the same 12-hole composite course will be used Sunday to get in the mandatory 36 holes.

Wright, a 33-year-old in search of his first LGPA Tour title, stands at 8-under, one shot ahead of South Korean Eun-Hee Ji, Paraguay's Julieta Granada and Paola Moreno of Colombia.

''I didn't know what was going on,'' Wright told reporters. ''I just play. That's probably how we should do it all the time . . . Look, the way I see it, it's the same for everyone,'' Wright said. ''There's always complaining. You just can't have a tournament without that. I think it's a shame, because the course on Monday, Tuesday, it was brilliant.

"It's a shame we're playing 12 holes, but I think for the Bahamas and for (sponsor) Pure Silk, it's the right thing to do. We're here to play golf. We're not here to party. Do that early on in the week.''

Two back of the leader are Cristie Kerr - who won two weeks ago at Kingsmill for her 16th LPGA victory - and South Korea's Hee Kyung Seo. ''It feels like a shootout,'' Kerr said of the strange tournament arrangement. ''We only have 12 holes every day, and you've got to go as low as you can. I did my job today.''

No. 2-ranked Stacy Lewis is only four behind Wright.

For all the scores, visit www.lpga.com.