Wolfe surges to Wichita Open lead with only Sunday’s final round remaining at Crestview

With one round to go, the Wichita Open Supporting Wichita’s Youth is Jared Wolfe’s golf tournament to lose.

Wolfe, a Murray State product, shot 5-under 65 Saturday to go 17-under and claim the 54-hole lead in the 2020 edition of the annual event, which is being contested at Crestview Country Club.

Second-round leader Taylor Pendrith and Taylor Mongtgomery are tied three strokes back at 196 through three days of the four-day, 72-hole Korn Ferry Tour event. Pendrith shot a 69 Saturday, Montgomery 65, and will begin the final round at 14-under.

But Wolfe, who began the day one stroke off the lead, used a birdie-eagle-birdie start to gain a quick lead that he wouldn’t relinquish on a windy day at Crestview.

“I got off to a dream start,” he said. “I just kind of kept things going with some good par saves. It was a good day.”

Earlier this season, Wolfe captured his first Korn Ferry Tour title at The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic. There, too, he was alone at the top of the leaderboard after 54 holes.

“Thankfully, that’s kind of the way most of the wins I’ve had have been,” Wolfe said. “I know my game right now and I know it’s solid. If I play my game, I feel like things should go well.”

Wolfe has carded a tourney-best 20 birdies so far this week. With a win Sunday, he’d join Davis Riley as the only two-time winners on the Korn Ferry Tour this season.

“That’d be awesome (to win again),” he said. “I feel like this year has been the best year that I’ve had. I want to cash in on how I feel like I’ve been playing this year.”

Final-round tee times are 9-11 a.m. Sunday. Players will be teeing off Nos. 1 and 10.

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