Casablanca/Morocco – "I do believe in miracles, but this time we really need one!" On Friday evening, when not even a dozen players had finished the first nine holes of the Open Palmeraie Country Club 2018 in Casablanca in Morocco, tournament chief referee Simon Bowler had more than a guess that this event maybe would not come to an end as it was supposed to be. During the first two days of the competition stormy winds over 50 mph and heavy rainfall made it nearly impossible to play by the rules or play at all. Again and again the competitors had to be called back to the clubhouse for shelter and just a few holes could be played. "If we can start play at 7:30 in the morning on the third day then we have a chance to make it a one round tournament at least", Bowler stated his view for the final day. "But if there is only a delay of 60 minutes at any time during the day then this tournament will not be finished."

There was no miracle. All through the night rain poured on the Moroccan coast and water soaked fairways and greens in Casablanca. "It is absolutely impossible to have a fair competition or even to to play at all under these conditions", Bowler said in the morning. The only possible consequence: the tournament was completely cancelled.

Extreme weather conditions

"We do extremely regret that it was impossible to hold the Open Palmeriae Country Club 2018 as it was supposed to be held, as a fair and competitive event of the Pro Golf Tour 2018 season. For the first time in Pro Golf Tour history there is no result for a tournament. Our team in Morocco tried everything possible to manage at least one 18 hole round but the extreme weather conditions did not allow us to do so", said Rainer Goldrian, CEO of the Pro Golf Tour. "I would particularly like to thank all of our supporters in Morocco for their great commitment to this event and to our tour. And my honest respect is also with our players who have been extremely patient and understanding during this difficult week. By the end of March we will come back for three more tournaments to Morocco - and hopefully we will find sunshine and mild temperatures by then!"

The next event on the Pro Golf Tour 2018 schedule is the Open Ocean 2018 held in Agadir from 25th to 27th of March.