Golfers were willing to negotiate with the rain but lightning proved to be a deal breaker Thursday at Mystic Creek. El Dorado’s home match against Benton, Fountain Lake, Hot Springs Lakeside and Magnolia was halted about midway through the round due to lightning strikes in the area.
El Dorado’s tennis match against Hot Springs was also called off due to the lightning.
“We had a very talented field here today and it's unfortunate that we couldn't finish the round,” said El Dorado golf coach Chris Ezell. “We were sitting in third at the time of the first lightning strike. The rain just popped up on top of us. Some of the kids were wanting to continue even in the downpour. The rain passed after about 10 minutes but the lightning continued to restart the 30-minute timer. After being off the course for almost an hour, we were discussing trying to resume play and finish the front nine and at least get nine in. But another strike occurred and the forecast was showing another round headed our way within 40 minutes. It became clear the best decision was to call it off.”
Ezell said Benton was leading the field by six shots with Paxton Lane at even after eight holes. Fountain Lake was two shots ahead of the Wildcats with Magnolia and Lakeside within two and five shots of El Dorado.
“We don't have a date to reschedule at this time,” said Ezell. “We have two more home matches over the next two weeks. I am not sure we could get another one in before the conference tournament.”
At the Racquet Club, lightning delayed the tennis matches with El Dorado’s Sidney Johnson and Sara Robbins both leading 6-4 in girls’ singles at the time of the stoppage.
The Wildcats had lost both boys’ singles matches.
El Dorado is scheduled to host Smackover on Tuesday.