The first round of The Annika Driven by Gainbridge at Pelican was suspended as darkness set early on a cloudy day. Two groups (six players) are yet to finish their opening round. The LPGA Tour announced from their social media handle that the first round will resume on Friday at 7:30 AM ET. 

Quite a lot is at stake as this is the last chance for some LPGA pros to enter the 60-player field of the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship. But will Mother Nature throw a spanner in their work? 

The Belleair sky is cloudy on Thursday night. The weather predicts there are slight chances of light showers in the wee hours of the morning. It appears that some of the players’ fate will be decided under an overcast sky and amid drizzles on the cut day.

Per the Weather Channel, the high and low temperatures will swing between 77F and 61F on Friday. Wind speed will remain between 10MPH and 15MPH. However, the chances of rain will come down to 15% from 31%. There is still a likelihood of raindrops falling in the morning. The relative humidity is projected to be at 68%. 

Florida is no stranger to adverse weather. Belleair, where the Pelican Golf Club is located, was battered by Hurricane Helene. Annika Sorenstam, the tournament host, has taken a few initiatives to provide support to the local community. Nevertheless, as the $3.25M-purse tournament swings to the second round, rain is unlikely to dampen the mood of spectators. 

The Annika final two rounds of weather forecast

Although Friday morning might see some light drizzle, the sky is expected to clear up by the moving day. The chance of rain drops to 4% from 15% by night. The Weather Channel predicts that a sunny sky will greet the players who made the 36-hole cut. Only the top 65 and ties will advance to the weekend at The Annika.

The maximum and minimum temperatures will hover between 79F and 64F. The chance of rain is around 4% with the relative humidity pointing at 57%. Similarly, the final round is expected to be played under a clear sky. 

On Sunday, the maximum temperature will reach 80F, whereas the minimum temperature is likely to be 67F. Safe to say, The Annika will not segue to the dreaded Monday finish.

In the first round, Charley Hull, still running hot after breaking a two-year title drought, fired a 6-under 64 to grab a share of the lead. A bogey on the par-4 17th was the only blemish on her scorecard that glittered with six circles. Hull reached 11 of 14 fairways and 13 of 18 greens in regulation. 

On the other hand, South Korean star Jiwon Jeon tied with Hull after a hole-in-one on the par-3 3rd (her 12th hole) at the Pelican. This was Jeon’s third ace this season, and the first she saw dropping in the hole. The second round of The Annika will start at 7:00 AM ET on Friday.