TORRENTIAL rain brought an abrupt halt to this morning's first round of the Wales Open at the Celtic Manor resort.

Heavy overnight rain had left the course with surface water on the fairways, and the greens on the first holes flooded.

With the rain getting heavier Mike Stewart, the senior European Tour Director, took the decision to suspend play.

It means that the first round of matches had little chance of finishing today. Only two groups were able to complete the first hole before play was suspended. David Dixon, playing in his first event as a professional, got off to a nervy start bogeying the first while playing partner Ross Drummond double bogeyed.

Blackwood's Bradley Dredge (pictured) meanwhile didn't even get to complete the first hole.

He was halfway down the first when the decision to suspend play was taken.