Pelican Women’s Championship shortened due to Hurricane Nicole

BELLEAIR — The Pelican Women’s Championship, originally scheduled to begin Thursday in Belleair, won’t start until Friday and will be shortened to 54 holes due to Hurricane Nicole, the LPGA announced Wednesday.

The tournament will resume no earlier than Friday at 6:55 a.m., according to a release. An update is expected to come Thursday afternoon, since the forecast is “thankfully trending in a positive direction.”

The LPGA cited high winds and the potential for bridge closures — which would impact access to Pelican Golf Club — as reasons for the delay, in addition to the anticipated rainfall. Senior LPGA and tournament leadership, in consultation with an on-site meteorologist, were involved in the decision.

Tickets for Thursday will now grant bearers access to one of the three remaining days of championship play (Friday through Sunday), according to the release.

This is the third year of the Pelican Women’s Championship — which will be renamed The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican in 2023 — with 120 golfers competing for a $2 million purse. Sei Young Kim won the inaugural tournament in 2020. Bradenton’s Nelly Korda won last year.