Wichita Open

Friday was supposed to be hot and windy and the scores weren't supposed to be low in round two. Tell that to the players in the field.  Roger Tambellini fired a 65 to lead round three at 12 under par. The Nationwide Tour's second money leader Troy Kelly went extra low with a 64 to get into a three-way tie at 11 under with Kyle Thompson and Matthew Goggin. By all accounts Goggin should be in the US Open field this week but qualifying rounds put him in Wichita. Which again, boosts the field here.

Following Thursday's four hour delay due to inclement weather, several players had to complete the remainder of their first round this morning. For a recap of first round action at Crestview Country Club, click here . Second Round With second round action complete, the cut has been set at 2-under par. Sixty-five golfers now advance to this weekend's championship rounds. Roger Tambellini, the leader after Round 1, picked up right where he left off on Thursday.

For some people, watching golf can be as fun as watching grass grow. And that's why the 17th hole at the Wichita Open exists.  It is so popular, it now has double decker seating - the only hole at the tournament, and on the tour, to have it. That makes it look like a mini-baseball stadium, and it encourages cheering, contests, and all things un-like golf.  Spectators can wager (among each other) who will hit the ball closest to the hole on the first swing.  They cheer caddies to race up to the green.  And they plead for the golf ball after the hole is played.  This weekend, a DJ will even play music between players.

Former Wichita State Shocker Dustin Garza has been disqualified from the Wichita Open.  According to Tommie Holtzman with the PHS Wichita Open Media Center, Garza put down the wrong score in the first round of the open. Holtzman says Garza wrote that he made a four on hole 14, when he actually made a five.  Holtzman says he was disqualified for signing his name to an incorrect scoring card. Garza golfed with Eyewitness Sports reporter Grant Meech earlier this week. You can see video and photos from their round using the links on the left.

If you were in the Wichita area just before lunch Thursday, you may have thought it was night.  An ominous-looking storm rolled through; a strong storm followed it.       And while it wasn't severe or damaging, it made things especially difficult for one group of people. From the first gust of wind to the last lighting bolt, the storm only lasted bout 90 minutes in the Wichita area, but it dropped more than an inch of rain on the Crestview Country Club golf course. That delayed the Wichita Open by four hours.

The weather has lifted... slightly. From the window of the media room at Crestview Country Club, there are still clouds in the sky and the tops of the trees are still bending. Spectators have been allowed back out on the course but the golfers are still in the dining room below us. This is the tricky part of weather delays. The course isn't in condition to play right now. It's wet and waterlogged. Lift-clean-and-place won't be played today since the round already started. Had this weather hit before anyone teed off, different rules.

Chez Reavie was born in Wichita in 1981. But he isn't the most famous Wichita golfer. Few even know he was born in the River City (his family moved to Arizona in the 90's and attended Arizona State). No, the honor goes to Derby resident, a certain Albert Woody Austin II or, Woody Austin, as we know him. The 1995 PGA Rookie of the Year won 3-times on tour and helped the 2007 President Cup team to victory and will no doubt battle for the largest gallery during the Wichita Open.

Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about the Preferred Health Systems Wichita Open.   When is the Wichita Open? Events for The Wichita Open began on June 13, 2011. The tournament begins Thursday June 16 and lasts through June 19, 2011 . Click here for schedules . Where is the Wichita Open held? The tournament is held at the Crestview Country Club located at: 1000 N. 127th St East Wichita, KS 67206 Phone: 316-733-1344 Click here for a map How do I get tickets?

The professional part of the Wichita Open Golf Tournament kicks off Thursday.  But while everyone will be watching the golfers and the shots, look where their standing. Underneath the drives, the putts, and the tees, sit the greens.  It may not look like much, sitting there silently.  But rebelliously, almost imperceptibly, it is growing. "When you mow out here," said Chad Stearns, "we're mowing greens at 100,000th of an inch. " He supervises each rough, each fairway, each blade of grass on the Crestview Country Club.  "My job is to create the best playing conditions possible," he explained Wednesday afternoon.