Rain washes out NCAA women's golf play

SUGAR GROVE, Ill. (AP) Rain washed out play in the NCAA women's golf tournament Saturday at Rich Harvest Farms, forcing officials to cut the stroke-play competition to 54 holes.

''With the severe weather threats that we monitored throughout Saturday morning, our committee came to the determination that, given the conditions, canceling Saturday's round was needed to maintain the overall student-athlete experience and the integrity of the championships,'' NCAA Division I Women's Golf Committee chair Jim Fee said.

The individual champion will be crowned Monday and the top eight teams will advance to match play.

On Friday, local favorite Northwestern took the first-round lead and rain and cold sent scores soaring.

Purdue's August Kim and Michigan's Elodie Van Dievoet topped the individual standings at even-par 72 on a day when the field averaged 80.76 strokes.

Northwestern had a 13-over 301 total for a two-stroke lead over Kent State. Stanford, Arizona State, Ohio State and Baylor were tied for third at 23 over.

Janey Mao led Northwestern with a 73.