Defending champion tees it up
A familiar face in the field, John Lenkey teed it up Thursday at Uniontown Country Club in the 21st Fayette County Open as the defending champion for the first time. The first round was just another day on the golf course according to Lenkey after he posted a 3-over 74, shooting 37 on both the front and back. “I never ever thought about it,” said Lenkey. “I hit it bad from first to the last tee. My short game saved me all day. I didn’t putt well, but when I actually got a birdie putt, I made it.
“I grinded it out today. I didn’t play myself out of this tournament.”
CHAMPIONS TOUR: Five former champions are in the field, including Lenkey, Pat Calvaresi, John Kingora, Mike Revak and Bernie Wydo.
Calvaresi is one shot off the lead after finishing with an even-par 71. Pete Dzambo III has the early lead after shooting a 1-under 70.
Revak, along with Lenkey, sits four shots behind Dzambo while Kingora carded a 75.
Wydo had a tough tour around Uniontown Country Club, going out in 7-over 43 before righting the ship on the back with a 3-over 34.
FAMILY TIES: The field includes a father-son combination and a pair of brothers. The younger Dzambo holds the first-round lead while his father Pete shot a 43-38-81. Seth, the younger Rockwell brother, holds a slim lead after the opening round of play, finishing with an 80 to brother Zach’s 82.
BY GEORGE: George Knapp and Wydo are the golfers to play in every Fayette County Open. Knapp is in early contention both he and Scott Bush finished at 2-over 73.
“I’m very lucky with a 73. This is the hardest course for me because it’s my home course,” said Knapp. “(Uniontown Country Club) is in excellent condition. I’m surprised the scores were high.”
Knapp and Wydo are the organizers of this year’s event, and Knapp was pleased how things progressed through the first round.
“I’d like to thank C. Harper Chevrolet. They sponsored the hole-in-one holes and have been a great supporter (of this year’s event),” said Knapp.
FASHION PLATE: The Open had a flash of color early in the person of Ryan Bashour. The Brownsville graduate, who was on the leaderboard after shooting a 3-over 74, sported a jet black shirt with brilliant red slacks.
Marcus Ondra, the tournament’s other nattily-dressed golfer, didn’t show the flash in attire as he has in the past. Ondra carded a 5-over 76.
ON THE ROAD: Today’s second round moves to Pleasant Valley Country Club with the opening tee time at 12:30 p.m. The third round is at Springdale Golf Club Saturday with play starting at 10 a.m. and Sunday’s final round will be held at Duck Hollow Golf Club with golfers taking to the tee at 9 a.m.