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Zach Smith Leads After Day One of 100th Kentucky Open

The opening round of the 100th Kentucky Open will need to be completed tomorrow morning. Severe weather lingering around the Lexington area delayed play twice on Tuesday afternoon; the second delay forcing play to be suspended for the day.

The morning wave was able to complete their round with amateur Zach Smith of Mount Sterling taking the lead following an opening round of 65 (-7). Smith currently leads by one stroke over Brendon Doyle of Louisville who shot 66 (-6), while three amateurs in Jay Kirchdorfer, Taylor Riggs and Evan Davis trail by two after each recorded rounds of 67 (-5).

“I had a really good ball-striking day,” Smith said. “My driver was a weapon today and allowed me to put a lot of wedges in my hand which let me fire at the hole all day. Hopefully I can keep it up the next couple days and see where it leads.”

Lightning first moved within a dangerous range of Kearney Hill Links at 12:30 p.m. EDT which forced a suspension of play that lasted an hour and fifteen minutes. At 1:45 p.m. EDT, play resumed and took place until 3:50 p.m. EDT, at which point more severe weather entered the area. At 6:00 p.m. EDT, play was officially suspended for the day due to the weather lingering with more severe weather on the way as well.

The players needing to finish their opening round will resume their first rounds at 7:30 a.m. EDT on Wednesday morning. Practice facilities will open at 6:30 a.m. EDT. Once play resumes, golf will be played for as long as time and weather allow on Wednesday. The players who teed off on Tuesday morning and had originally been scheduled to play on Wednesday from 12:45 p.m. EDT to 2:45 p.m. EDT should now expect to begin their second rounds at a range of approximately 3:00 p.m. EDT through 5:00 p.m. EDT.

DAY ONE NOTES

  • Zach Smith’s lead was helped in large part by a five-under stretch through six holes. Birdies on the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th, and 8th holes spearheaded a front-nine 31 (-5).
  • The 15th and 17th holes tied as the hardest on course during the opening round. Each played to an average score to par of +0.45, giving up only a combined thirteen birdies.
  • The easiest hole to start the championship was the par-five third, playing at -0.37. An eagle and forty-four birdies were made, easily identifying it as a hole that must be taken advantage of this week.

To view the current leaderboard, click here.

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