Hurricane-force winds cause golf course chaos in Auckland

Wind speeds in excess of 44km/hr halt the New Zealand Women’s Open golf
Spectators, officials and players are forced onto the sidelines of the course
Spanish golf champion Belen Mozo is almost hit at the seventh hole by a sign
Play has been suspended until tomorrow, when a champion will be announced

By Yael Brender For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 09:41 BST, 1 October 2017 | Updated: 10:26 BST, 1 October 2017

Spanish women’s golf champion Belen Mozo

Dominating the New Zealand Women’s Open golfing tournament on Sunday afternoon wasn’t third-round leader Belen Mozo, but hurricane-force winds in excess of a 44km/hr.

Golf course signage became unhinged and blew towards Ms Mozo as the Spanish golf champion lined up to take a shot at the seventh hole just before 5pm.

Along with officials and spectators, she driven to the sidelines and forced to struggle with hoardings and umbrellas that had blown inside out.

Ms Mozo can be heard on video saying, ‘We are going to get hurt [by] a stupid sign’ and asking to speak to a supervisor.

Ms Belen Mozo (second from left) is almost hit by signage at the seventh hole in New Zealand

Meanwhile, a stretcher was carried onto the course as a precaution after a Sky Television contractor lost his footing fell down a bank.

Play has now been ‘suspended due to inclement weather’ and a winner will not be announced until Monday.

According to the New Zealand Herald, if the final round cannot be completed then Ms Mozo will win the tournament as she leads by one-stroke at 15-under-par after three rounds.

Competitors, officials and spectators are forced to the sidelines by hurricane-force winds

Caught on video is the moment that dozens of white signs are tossed onto the course and toward spectators, forcing them to duck and run to avoid being hit.

Two figures can be seen near the seventh hole huddled under an umbrella that is threatening to flip inside out, dragging them both sideways on the green,

Elsewhere on the course, people rush to zip up their clothing and grab hold of their belongings as an official suggests that everyone ‘try to get to shelter’.

Auckland and Northland residents have been advised that gale-force winds are to be expected

Auckland and Northland residents have been advised to tie down loose objects as gale-force winds of up to 120km/h are expected to lash the region on Sunday night.

MetService meteorologist Tui McInnes confirmed that the storm will be strong enough to toss solid objects into the air.

The conditions are expected to ease toward the middle of the week.