Three share Wichita Open lead after opening round at Crestview Country Club

Zecheng “Marty” Dou, Jared Wolfe and Billy Tom Sargent all shot opening rounds of 7-under 63 Thursday to share the early lead at the Wichita Open Supporting Wichita’s Youth at Crestvew Country Club.

Former University of Kansas golfer Brad Hopfinger and Taylor Dickson, Mark Baldwin and Mark Blakefield were each 1 back at 6-under in the Korn Ferry Tour’s annual Wichita tournament.

Sargent, a Korn Ferry Tour rookie, carded two birdies and seven pars on his first nine holes. He had four birdies and an eagle on the back nine.

“My short game felt really good going into the week,” he said, “so I just stayed patient and tried to make some putts. ... I’m just thankful to be out here and just having fun.”

Dou, seeking his third Korn Ferry Tour victory, got off to a fast start with a birdie and eagle. After playing his next seven holes even, he carded back-to-birdies on Nos. 10 and 11 to reach 5-under. He then recorded three birdies over his final five holes.

“I played really solid,” Dou said. “I’ve been playing my long irons and driver really well, and that’s how I kept it in play and kept making birdies.”

Wolfe, who claimed his first Korn Ferry Tour title this season at The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic, had nine birdies and two bogeys during Thursday’s opening round.

“I’ve been close, so hopefully it’s going to pay off this week,” he said.

Prairie Village’s Andy Spencer, who like Hopfinger is a former Jayhawk, opened with a 72. Wichita native Luke Gannon had an opening-round 72. And Wichita’s Max McGreevy, a former OU Sooner, fired a first-round 71.

This week’s purse is $600,000, with $108,000 going to the champion. The champion also earns 500 Korn Ferry Tour points.

This story was originally published September 24, 2020 at 8:43 PM.