NASSAU, Bahamas, May 24, 2013 (AFP) - Torrential rain earlier in the week that flooded the Ocean Club Golf Course had already prompted organizers to shorten the event, wiping out play on Thursday.
In a bid to get 36 holes played by Sunday night on the ravaged course, officials came up with a plan to play 12 holes per day, although 27 players were unable to complete even the revised first-round layout on Friday after lightning in the area forced a suspension of almost three hours.
Cavalleri and Bowie Young both carded six-under 39 on the par-45, 12-hole course.
Four players, including major winner Anna Nordqvist of Sweden, were tied for fourth on five-under par 40.
"It's just Mother Nature, and as a golfer you grow up with this," Bowie Young said. "You just go when you can, and they're making the absolute best of the situation. I'm really glad we're playing golf."
Nordqvist continued the strong form she showed last week in Mobile, Alabama, where she carded a career-low 61 in the third round.
"Last week, I had a couple easy birdies and made a couple 10-footers and golf just seemed very easy that day," she said.
"I feel like my game has been improving and improving all year."
Nordqvist was joined on five-under 40 by Colombian Paola Moreno and Americans Lisa McCloskey and Austin Ernest.
World number one Park In-Bee of South Korea got off to a slow start. She had one bogey as she completed the 12 holes of the first round in one-over 46.
Partial first-round scores on Friday in the Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic (Darkness stopped play; 12-hole round to resume Saturday. USA unless noted, par-45):
39 - Silvia Cavalleri (ITA), Heather Bowie Young
40 - Austin Ernest, Paola Moreno (COL), Anna Nordqvist (SWE), Lisa McCloskey
41 - Park Hee-Young (KOR), Karine Icher (FRA), Jane Rah, Brittany Lang, Suzann Pettersen (NOR), Lee Il-Hee (KOR), Julieta Granada (PAR), Tiffany Joh, Alena Sharp (CAN)