PROFESSIONAL GOLF: Wind spoils first day | Hawkes Bay Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Hawkes Bay

It didn't bother the world-class professional golfers that sheep were bleating or cows mooing.

Even when ``nature called'', first Camilo Villegas then Anthony Kim had no qualms about scampering away behind the cranes cradling TV camera crews after teeing off on the par 4, No 14 hole, Pimple.

But things took a turn for the worst after the next hole, Pirate's Plank, when Texan Sean O'Hair lost his cap to ``the ocean'', and the climb up the Widow's Walk was the defining moment.

Up to 80km/h gusts suspended play in the second annual US$2 million ($2.73 million) Kiwi Challenge until this morning at the Cape Kidnappers Golf resort in Hawke's Bay when play resumed an hour earlier at 8am.

PGA Tour official Mark Dusbabek accepted the pleas from defending champion Hunter Mahan and his caddy, John Wood, that the conditions were unplayable. His decision was vindicated when he placed a ball on the green of the par 5 16th hole and watched as the southerlies set it rolling backwards.

A pristine morning had suddenly turned sour as angry clouds took the sting out of the sun and whipped up winds that spectators and players struggled to battle.

Caps went flying and marshalls armed with scoreboards and ``quiet'' signs wisely opted to keep their message below their waste.

American O'Hair and Colombian Villegas were level at two-under par while Kim was one-over par and Mahan was beginning to lose the plot at three over.

Villegas told the press conference Dusbabek's decision was correct.

``It would have been fun to keep playing. But it was pretty serious. We were trying to put on a good show.

``If this was back in college and we're just playing 18 holes we would have kept going. We would have laughed. We would have been joking around. This is a big event. It's a big event for New Zealand, Julian Robertson puts on such a great show. We gotta respect what they're doing,'' the 27-year-old said after two meetings were held after play stopped in a bid to resume but eventually the decision not to continue came at 4pm.

Most fans, showing their knowledge of Bay weather, had started leaving earlier.

Said O'Hair: ``We were talking about the practice round yesterday _ it was completely pointless because of the conditions. We were hitting drives 400 yards on a few holes. And then 15, I think our drives went about 230, 240 against the wind. And it just was one of those days where downwind all you're trying to do is hit the green and you're hitting some weird clubs against the wind.

``And it's not just the wind, it's the firmness of the golf course. The greens are firm. The fairways are firm.''

O'Hair's putter warmed up nicely on a day he believed he read the greens well but he found the ball ``oscillating'' on the green of the par 5 No.15.

``I was scared it was going to move. So I kept backing off and remarking the ball and it was nice to make that birdie and then we're all standing on the tee and I hit my drive.

``All of a sudden it probably dropped 15 degrees in about 10 seconds. It was the oddest thing I've seen. And there went my hat, it actually blew into the ocean.

``Then on the fairway I think we all hit our second shots in the middle of the fairway, my ball was oscillating.

``And I just looked at Mark (Dusbabek) and said if we hit these balls on the green, it's not going to stay. I think it was a good call on his part. It's a shame. It would have been nice to get the round in, but we'll be okay tomorrow.''

He felt today would be equally challenging, especially the 439m, par 4 No 18 hole.

``I think it's just going to be a long, long day.''

The 27-year-old found walking the 6570m course tough, especially while waiting around.

``You can't go from the tee to the fairway.

``It's basically you're taking a path around because there's a lot of valleys and gullies that you can't walk across. So it's obviously very up and down.

``But I think at this place you sacrifice that to get the scenery out here, you know what I mean. So it's either one thing or the other.''

Villegas declined to label it a bad day on account of his four birdies and two bogeys.

``It was so beautiful, so calm at the beginning, and I gave myself a lot of chances in the front nine.

``Then when we got to the 10, it started blowing. And I think 10 and 11 we're just trying to hit the greens. It was so tough. ``I think my driver must have flown 160 yards. I was definitely not getting it up in the air because it could have gone anywhere. And then for my second shot I was definitely not going to ground my 5 wood because the ball wanted to move in the fairway. That's in the fairway.''

Villegas, who claimed he had played in gusty conditions in Australia and Colombia, felt when a tournament became unplayable it was simply unfair.

Trusting his caddy's mathematics and their instincts were crucial.

The gallery wasn't as large as last year's inaugural 36-hole event, split between here and Kauri Cliffs, both properties belonging to Wall Street tycoon Julian Robertson.

Some observers suspected it had to do with people having to work and many felt today's final day would have a larger audience.

The winner of today's event will take home US$1 million of the prizemoney while the runner-up will pocket US$500,000, the third placegetter US$300,000 and one of them picking up US$200,000 just for turning up.

Proceeds from the event will go towards two Bay charities - Rotary Pathways and BNZ Save the Kiwi.

DAY 1 HIGHLIGHTS

• Security officers frisk fans with metal detectors as they near the clubhouse.
• A Colombian spectator, Andres Sanchez, armed with a pair of binoculars and his country's flag, reveals Camilo Villegas is a ''super idol''.
• Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule is among the gallery, wearing his formal black suit and tie.
• An irritated Anthony Kim tells a TV sound technician ''to keep going'' after he finds him too close for comfort as he discusses with his caddy the next move on finding himself in the rough. It doesn't get any better for the American, who finds himself in ankle-high rough after the next shot and takes a two-club length dropout to finish with a two-over on the par 5 No.4 hole, ''The Rise''. Says resort owner Julian Robertson: ''He's lucky not to go in further.'' As Kim drops his next shot close to the pin, Robertson remarks: ''Great shot!''
• Nice touch from defending champion Hunter Mahan's caddy, John Wood, who chucks a ball at a youngster who, after looking confused, realises it's an early Christmas and his smile speaks volumes.
• Villegas and Kim draw vociferous appraisals after superb approach shots to the 414m par4 ``Flags''(No.7 hole) but the wind makes its presence felt in the next hole before dictating terms in the back nine.
• Owner Robertson's youngest son, Alex, watches as all four players par on the 119m par 3 Al's Ace, named after him because he had scored a hole in one there when the course was officially opened on December 22, 2003.
• Soon after the drives, head on into the in-your-face southerlies, tour officials, players and the Robertsons hold a hastily called meeting to deliberate. Carts whisk players away.