Canadian’s blistering 62 launches him atop Wichita Open leaderboard as play continues

When you go 8-under in a golf tournament, good things generally happen. In the case of Taylor Pendrith, his second-round 62 Friday was sufficient to propel him atop the midway-point leaderboard for the Wichita Open Supporting Wichita’s Youth at Crestview Country Club.

Pendrith was at 13-under 127 through 36 holes entering Saturday’s penultimate round.

Jared Wolfe sits alone in second at 12-under 128.

Pendrith began the day two strokes off the lead but started the second round with two birdies in his first four holes. After his lone bogey of the day on the par-3 fifth, the Canadian took advantage of the short par-4 seventh with an eagle.

On the back nine, Pendrith tallied his third birdie on the par-4 No. 11. After a par on 12, he made four consecutive birdies on Nos. 13-16, then closed with pars on Nos. 17 and 18.

His 8-under 62 marked his career-low score since joining the Korn Ferry Tour.

“I hit the driver really well,” he said. “There are a couple holes here where you can get a little more aggressive and get it up close to the greens. I drove it really well and my putter was on. I didn’t make too many mistakes, and when I missed the green, I was in pretty simple spots where I could almost chip in.”

In last week’s U.S. Open at Winged Foot Golf Club — his first time playing in a U.S. Open — the 29-year-old Pendrith carded a final-round 70 and finished tied for 23rd.

“That place (Winged Foot) is so hard. I’m happy to be back out here making birdies,” he said with a laugh.

Friday evening’s Wichita Open cut was at 3-under — 74 players advanced to the weekend portion of competition. This week’s purse is $600,000, with $108,000 and 500 Korn Ferry Tour points awarded the champion.

This story was originally published September 26, 2020 at 2:51 PM.