Record turnout of golf fans at Air Capital Classic

At the Air Capital Classic, there are known commodities.

There are up-and-coming stars tearing up the golf course – Bubba Watson, Tom Lehman and David Duval have all made their way to Wichita at some point in their careers before going on to PGA Tour stardom.

There is the famous 17th hole and its double-decker grandstands packed with fans rocking and rolling by the early afternoon, with the Box Tops’ classic “The Letter” blaring as golfers finished the hole.

And there is the unknown, which on Friday turned out to be very, very good.

After Friday morning’s tee times were delayed by three hours because of overnight storms, the gates at Crestview Country Club opened and fans responded with record crowds – the highest single-day attendance in the tournament’s 26-year history, according to tournament director Roy Turner. He estimated some 10,000 fans came out to watch a day of golf.

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” Turner said. “The problem we have right now to deal with is parking, which is a great problem to have but also a huge problem … but we’re loving it.

“Trying to deal with the issue, but loving it.”

The attendance spike for the Web.com Tour event was no doubt aided by mild temperatures, with a high of 84 degrees after a sweltering opening day on Thursday saw a high of almost 100.

Temperatures for Saturday were expected to once again be in the mid-80s, before an upturn on Sunday with temperatures reaching close to 100 on the final day of the tournament.

“It’s been absolutely wonderful,” Turner said. “But now we need to make sure all of these people have a good time.

“My concern is with the 500 volunteers and all of the marshals and people working in the office because the weather delay makes it so that instead of finishing between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. we’re going to be done closer to 8:45.”

The tournament’s total purse is $600,000, with the winner bringing home $108,000. The top 25 money spots on the Web.com Tour earn spots on the PGA Tour for next season.

This year, 54 of the top 55 money leaders on the tour were in Wichita, and many praised the tournament’s down-home feel and, of course, No. 17.

By early evening, the population in 17’s grandstands was dwindling, but a hearty (and imbibed) group of loyalists could still be heard on the fairway leading up to No. 18 and the clubhouse.

“That’s the hole everybody talks about when they’re coming here, that’s the one everybody remembers because of the fans,” said Web.com money leader Patton Kizzire. “That’s unique for any tournament you’re going to play in, anywhere.”

“I’m always blown away by the fans that come out (on No. 17),” said Kyle Thompson, who finished second at the Air Capital in 2011. “And for me, I’m just comfortable in Wichita. I have friends that I stay with that live on the 18th hole, so it’s become kind of a tradition for me.”

This story was originally published June 26, 2015 at 9:04 PM with the headline "Record turnout of golf fans at Air Capital Classic."