A couple of times, the rain came down hard. But it didn’t deter the players from shooting some pretty decent scores.

Sarah Ward and Charlene Coetzee-Hirst both teed off at 9:10 a.m. and were met with nasty conditions.

‘‘The hardest part is keeping your stuff dry,’’ said Ward, who shot a 74. ‘‘A couple of times, it came down pretty hard but it wasn’t brutal.’’

Coetzee-Hirst, from Capetown, South Africa, said she almost enjoyed the rainy weather. After a 74 in the sun on Thursday, she shot even-par 71 on Friday.

‘‘It wasn’t the most pleasant weather to play in but I’ve grown up in these type of conditions back home.’’

‘‘We’ve played in a lot of rain this year,’’ added Ward. ‘‘I think four events have been shortened to 36 holes because of rain – and that’s a lot. We want more holes. It weeds people out the more holes you play.’’

Ward credited Salisbury Country Club superintendant Ron Bivens for the great shape of the course.

‘‘I love coming here,’’ Ward said. ‘‘It’s a great golf course. It’s fun to play. And even with all the rain, it was playable.’’

TIMETABLE: Bivens didn’t have much time to get ready for the Futures Tour stop. He knew only a month beforehand that a tournament in Durham had fallen through.

‘‘We had a member-guest last week and my club championship is next week,’’ Bivens said. ‘‘So we just tried to keep everything on top. The crew worked extra hard but we like having it out here. It’s fun to see it.’’

AUSTRALIAN STAR: Michelle Ellis is known as a golfer but that is just one part of her fascinating life.

First, she is a real pro at net ball, one of Australia’s best at the sport.

‘‘It’s a game similar to basketball that’s real big in Australia and New Zealand,’’ the personable Ellis said. ‘‘You don’t have a backboard. You’ve got to be three feet from a person. You can’t run with it. You catch the ball and that’s it.’’

Ellis was actually thinking of a career in net ball until she injured a knee. She is now concentrating on golf, a sport that has become much more popular in Australia over the last decade.

‘‘We haven’t got what these girls over here have,’’ she said. ‘‘We don’t have college golf so we’re not playing against top competition like Grace Park and Jenny Chuasiriporn.’’

So the Aussies stick together. There are 10 Australians on the Futures Tour.

‘‘That’s one good thing about being over here,’’ Ellis said. ‘‘It really puts Australia golf on the map. We haven’t won too many but we’re real competitive.’’

Ellis proved that in Salisbury, where she shot her second straight 70 and finished just two shots behind Melinda Daniels, winning $1,470.

Oh yes, there is something else Ellis can do: sing.

‘‘That’s part of my life, mostly a hobby. ‘‘I like Garth Brooks and Clint Black and I write songs for certain artists.

With a laugh, Ellis said, ‘‘But nobody you guys would know over here.’’

REMEMBERING RICKY: Heather Bowie, who finished in a tie for second, was a four-time All-American from the University of Texas.

So, Heather, what’s Heisman Trophy winner and former Piedmont Boll Weevil Ricky Williams really like?

‘‘He’s a really great guy, very mellow,’’ said Bowie. ‘‘He didn’t have that football player ego.’’

Bowie’s roommate dated a Longhorn football player so ‘‘I was around him more than some of the other golfers,’’ she said.

But what about that stud in his tongue?

‘‘Hey, everybody’s got own their thing,’’ Bowie laughed.

STILL IN FIRST: Money leader Eunice Choi remained in first place although she won just $261. Second place Marilyn Lovander, who was $3,000 behind coming in, couldn’t make up much ground, winning $391.

But it was still a lot better than Ward. She barely made the money cutoff, winning $34 with a 147 score.

Duke’s Jenny Chuasiriporn shot a 75 and finished out of the money, one stroke behind Ward. *bi

RETIRED: Eloise Trainor will always remember Salisbury, North Carolina.

It was the last stop of the Future Golf Tour that she was still considered the president.

Trainor, the founder of the Futures Tour, retired Wednesday after 19 years. Under her direction, the Futures went from a mini-tour to a developmental tour for the LPGA.

‘‘Leaving was the most difficult decision I have had to make,’’ said Trainor, who once traveled to 300 consecutive events. ‘‘When I started this tour, I never envisioned the growth. There were many times I didn’t think we would make it to the next year.

Zayrqa Calderon, chief executive officer of the Tour, will now take over as president.