The first round of the Challenge Tour's Cordon Open in France was delayed on Thursday after vandals damaged six greens on the host course, Golf Blue Green de Pleneuf Val Andre.
The discovery was made in the morning, with the initial delay open-ended with a minimum of two hours added to start times. Grounds crews worked quickly to fill in the holes, which appear almost to have been made by slamming a golf club into the putting surfaces hundreds of times to make divots. In the end, only an additional hour was added to the initial forecast, with play starting after a three-hour delay.
Play has been delayed indefinitely at the #CordonOpen due to 6 greens being vandalised overnight. Minimum delay of 2 hrs to all start times.
— Challenge Tour (@Challenge_Tour) September 3, 2015
Shocking scenes at the #CordonOpen as 6 greens were vandalised overnight. 3 hour delay but round one is now under way pic.twitter.com/gIcLev7mH3
— Challenge Tour (@Challenge_Tour) September 3, 2015
Several players reacted on Twitter, including some with vulgar language. Oliver Bekker had the proper reaction:
Someone vandalized 6 greens at this weeks #Challengetour event. Hope they find whoever dis this!#CordonOpen pic.twitter.com/el0vpqixNQ
— Oliver Bekker (@TwisT1010) September 3, 2015
