AFP - The Australian PGA Championship will extend into Monday after heavy rain stopped play midway through the final round on Sunday.
Play was halted in the early afternoon when the Coolum course became unplayable and there was not enough daylight for the golfers to complete their final rounds.
Veteran Australian Peter Senior, on 12-under-par, was one shot ahead of compatriot Peter Fowler and American Bobby Gates before persistent rain flooded greens and bunkers.
Officials will schedule an early start on Monday morning for the 24 players unable to complete their final round.
Gates endured two putts lipping out and a bogey from a flooded bunker cost him the lead but he said organisers were right to try to get the event finished.
"I can't fault anyone for trying to get the tournament played, everyone's trying their hardest but I've never played under these conditions before," he said.
Like several other players, including defending champion Robert Allenby who has his annual charity golf day in Melbourne on Monday, Gates is booked on a morning flight.
Australian Marc Leishman (66) was the clubhouse leader on seven-under-par.
China's number one Liang Wenchong had a bogey-free morning and is the leading Asian player in the tournament at seven under. He has seven holes to finish on Monday.
The last time a major Australian tournament extended into Monday was at the 1987 Australian Open at Royal Melbourne won by Greg Norman.
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