Play halted by darkness at Milan

MILAN, Italy, May 4 (UPI) -- Heavy rain Friday forced a delay of almost nine hours at the European Tour's Italian Open in Milan, and soon after play resumed it was suspended by darkness.

Weather-permitting, the second round will resume Saturday morning.

"It crossed my mind (to play preferred lies from the outset), but I was brought up in the school of mind that people don't want to use preferred lies if they don't have to," said Senior Referee Andy McFee on the tour's Web site, after existing scores and ball positions were allowed.

Sweden's Joakim Backstrom was the first-round leader at 10-under-par 62.

Tournament officials said they hoped to play the second and third rounds before darkness halts play again Saturday.