Rain fails to disrupt golf at Mini Games

The golf tournament got underway on Wednesday at the Vanuatu 2017 Pacific Mini Games and, despite torrential conditions late in the day, players from Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia are dominating the top six placings in the women’s event.

Each carding rounds of 75, Kristine Seko (PNG) and Emilie Ricaud (NCL) have a one-stroke lead over the next two players Mathilde Guepy (NCL) and Rotana Howard (COK) with no more than one stroke separating each of the top 17 placings in a field of 22.

With three days to go, the field is as tight as would be expected and day 2 will prove interesting to see if a break can be made by any of those at the top of the leaders’ board.

There are eight nations represented in the women’s event with four from Vanuatu, the best of whom – Joanita Faionalave – is sitting on 80, just five shots behind the leader.

In the men’s competition, 28 golfers from eight nations are vying for gold with Kristopher Williamson of the Cook Islands leading the field by one stroke on 69 ahead of Abid Hussein of Fiji.

Vanuatu’s Kora Mansale sits in sixth place, just four shots off the lead.

Day two will hit off at 9am on Thursday with hopes that the rain stays away and allows a full day’s play and good conditions for fans and supporters to follow the action around the course at Mele.