THE March wind did not bring last week's snow back to Spain's Costa Dorada yesterday but it prevented any play in the Catalan Open at Bonmont near Tarragona. Known locally as a cierzo, it gusted to 60 mph and despite brilliant sunshine the only shots struck were those by officials in periodically ascertaining that the most exposed greens of the mountainside course were unplayable.

Those at the 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th were the most affected and after nearly six hours delay tournament director David Garland was forced to abandon the unequal struggle against the elements.

"To try and play in the lulls would have been a joke," he added. "The wind was as strong as at the Dunhill Cup at St Andrews two years ago but the difference here is that the terrain of the course is such that golf is impossible in a high wind."

Promoter Jamie Birkmyre demonstrated as much when he experimented with a two foot putt at the 15th. "As I approached the ball it oscillated and then started rolling. It did not stop until it had finished in a bunker 60 yards away " he said.

The 140 players including Philip Walton, who won this event when 36 holes had to be played on Sunday because of high winds at Perelada near the French border last April, were sent back to their hotels with orders to be ready to resume early today. Garland's objective is to try and complete the second round today, cut to the leading 50 and ties, then play the final 36 holes tomorrow.

Walton was among those late starters who quickly learned that they would not be required yesterday but Raymond Burns, John McHenry, Frances Howley and Padraig Harrington all spent six hours at the course before the abandonment was made.

Burns commented "After five days without hitting a ball in South Africa and now this, it is no help at all in trying to get into a playing rhythm.

Burns had an opening 78 on Thursday when the best Irish return was a 72 from Dubliner Paul McGinley. Howley was next best with 74 while Walton and Harrington each returned 75. Man with the biggest smile on his face was Scotland's Paul Lawrie whose seven under par 65 put him in the vanguard of the contenders for the £50,000 title.