Staff WriterHaotong Li bounced back with flair at the Hainan Classic, seizing a share of the first-round lead before Mother Nature called time on play.
The Hainan Classic opener at Mission Hills Haikou began under a blazing sun but was cut short at 4:00 pm local time, leaving the afternoon waves stranded on the course.
Weather Delays Round One
Play commenced on the Blackstone Course in sweltering Hainanese heat, but dark clouds rolled in abruptly.
Organisers halted the tournament when storms made the greens untenable, postponing the completion of the opening round until 7:00 am local time on Friday, April 25.
Three-Way Tie at the Top
China’s Li carded a slick 66, finishing six under par to sit alongside Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Norway’s Kristoffer Reitan at the summit.
Denmark’s Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen and China’s Zihao Jin lurk just one shot back on five under, while last year’s HotelPlanner Tour Number One was halted after 13 holes.
Li’s Hot Streak Continues
After capturing his fourth DP World Tour title at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters earlier this year, Li showed no signs of slowing.
“I felt confident off the tee and managed to keep the ball rolling on the greens,” he reflected post-round.
Starting on the back nine, the 29-year-old birdied Nos. 12, 14 and 15 to turn in 33. A hiccup at No. 1 was swiftly answered with a birdie at No. 2, and further gains at Nos. 4, 6 and 7 sealed his 66. His resilience after a narrow defeat in Shanghai last week has him ready to chase another trophy on Hainan Island.
Looking Ahead to Friday’s Resumption
With the leaderboard tightly packed and all eyes on early tee times, Friday’s restart promises drama.
Conditions are forecast to clear, giving players a shot at completing the opening round before teeing off on moving day.
Whoever emerges from the final groups will know they’ve earned it—and in true Hainan Classic style, a few surprises surely await.
As the tour returns to Mission Hills Haikou on Friday morning, the quest for the Hainan Classic crown is wide open—and promises the kind of high-stakes theatre that keeps fans on the edge of their seats.
