The Madrilenian Pablo Ereño (PAR) made his official debut in a professional tournament this Thursday. It was at the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Wichita Open, an event on the Korn Ferry Tour, the second-tier American tour for which he earned his card on his own merits by finishing among the top ten in the PGA Tour University.
The even-par result on this first day feels a bit underwhelming, as it was a very birdie-friendly day. This Wednesday, a severe storm hit the Crestview Country Club, the tournament venue, and forced the course to remain closed for a good part of the day to try to clean up all the damage caused by the bad weather. Many branches fell, and several tents were left practically unusable. The storm also left the course softer and more receptive, and many players took advantage of this to treat themselves. That’s the nature of the Korn Ferry Tour. It demands going very low. Even before the day was completed, 14 rounds of 65 strokes or better had already been recorded. An incredible feat.
Be that as it may, it was not an easy day for Ereño. It was his first appearance in a professional tournament. He never got to play one as an amateur, and the debut is always challenging. He started, in fact, with a double bogey on his fourth hole of the day, starting from the 10th. It’s not exactly the start one seeks to calm the nerves. However, his magnificent reaction from that moment on must be appreciated. He signed a two-under-par score over the next 14 holes, with three birdies and a solitary bogey, demonstrating one of his main qualities: consistency.
Obviously, in a week where you have to make so many birdies, this even-par result leaves him quite far back in the standings. This Friday, he will need a really low round to make the cut. It’s expected to be around -5 or -6, although it will obviously depend on the weather conditions we have this afternoon and tomorrow morning. At least, he has already shaken off the tension of the debut. That hurdle is over.
The best example of how low the scores have been in Kansas is Adrien Dumont de Chassart (-11). The Belgian player has taken the lead in the tournament with a round of 59 strokes. He becomes the 61st golfer to shoot below 60 in an official round on one of the world’s main tours. Dumont de Chassart, one of the most outstanding university players of his time, recorded twelve birdies and a solitary bogey.
Todas las vueltas por debajo de 60 golpes en la historia del golf
The European golfer, who is fighting for one of the PGA Tour cards distributed from the Korn Ferry when the season ends, has a four-stroke lead over a large group of players, including Seung Yul Noh, Johnny Keefer, who played the US Open last week, James Nicholas, also present at Oakmont, and Sandy Scott.
