Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Wichita Open: Storylines, tournament facts and more

The Korn Ferry Tour will head to Wichita, Kansas this week for the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Wichita Open. For the 35th year, the event joins just three other Korn Ferry Tour events that have been played every year since the Tour’s inaugural 1990 season. Crestview Country Club will operate as the host for the tournament for the 24th consecutive year.

See storylines and tournament facts below.

Korn Ferry Tour debut

Making his debut at the Wichita Open is PGA TOUR University Class of 2024 No. 2. Christo Lamprecht. Lamprecht played four seasons at Georgia Tech (2021-24) where he earned two collegiate victories, earned the 2024 Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year award and secured the 128th Amateur Championship in June 2023, earning exemptions for the 2023 Open Championship (T74 – low amateur) and 2024 Masters Tournament (missed cut).

A start from home

Wichita-native Sam Stevens will make his first ever start at the Wichita Open this week. Collecting two top-10 finishes across his 17 starts on the TOUR this season, Stevens currently sits at 94th in the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup Standings.

Former champs return

Six previous champions return to the Wichita Open field, including reigning champion Ricky Castillo. Castillo’s 2023 win marked his first career start on the Korn Ferry Tour, marking him as the 19th player in the Tour’s history to win in his debut. Additional previous tournament champions include Jared Wolfe (2020), Ollie Schniederjans (2016), Rob Oppenheim (2015), Scott Piercy (2008) and Ben Crane (2000).

Tournament facts

• Course: Crestview Country Club, par 70, 6,910 yards
• Field: 156 players (72 holes)
• Defending champion: Ricky Castillo
• Purse: $1,000,000 (winner: $180,000)
• Scoring records:
  • Low 18-hole score: 60, Justin Suh (Round 4, 2022), Alejandro Tosti (Round 4, 2023)
  • Low 72-hole score: 254, Norman Xiong (2022)