officials to suspend play twice and finally reduce the women's World Amateur Golf Team Championships to 54 from 72 holes.

Bermuda are represented at the championships by Wake Forest University player Kim Marshall, Judithanne Outerbridge and Pat Morgan.

It wasn't clear yesterday whether any of that trio had started their rounds when officials made the decision to postpone play.

A tropical storm over the central Philippines dumped two inches of rain on the 6,626-yard Santa Elena Golf and Country Club course in the town of Santa Rosa in Laguna province, 25 miles south of Manila.

Michael Bonallack, an official of the World Amateur Golf Council and organiser of the biennial event, made the announcement after some players had completed the first nine holes. Play in the first round would be resumed today, he said.

Bonallack noted it was the first time the championship had been reduced to 54 holes since it was first held in France in 1964.

A total of 102 players from 34 nations are competing.

During the suspended first round, American Kellee Booth shot a one-over-par 37 on the front nine with two birdies on holes two and eight against three bogeys on holes three, five and nine.

Jennifer Rosales of the Philippines, the reigning world ladies junior champion, struggled with a four-over 40 on the front nine with a quadruple bogey at the par-five eighth hole.

Bermuda's men's team of Henry Ascento, Bill Pitt, Hav Trott and Tim Carr were due to begin their practice rounds yesterday at the nearby Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club.

The first round of the 72-hole men's tournament for the Eisenhower Cup is scheduled for next Thursday.