Nov 22, (V7N) -The Australian PGA Championship has been shortened to a 54-hole event after heavy rain and flooding forced the abandonment of play on Friday at the Royal Queensland course in Brisbane. Nearly 250mm of rain fell over the course during the week, causing significant disruption.

The second round will resume at 6 a.m. local time (2000 GMT) on Saturday, with local professional Elvis Smylie holding a one-stroke lead at six-under after a solid 65 in the first round. Major champion and three-time tournament winner Cameron Smith is two strokes behind Smylie at four-under, tied with former world number one Jason Day.

With the revised format, players will have less time to make up ground, and the tournament's outcome will depend on how conditions play out in the remaining rounds.

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