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The Korn Ferry Tour’s Wichita Open is scheduled to kick off on Thursday, June 19th. A violent overnight storm has disrupted that schedule in the days leading into the event.
Video from residents near the course and surrounding areas captured the unexpected weather up close and personal. The clips show intense rain and extreme winds as locals searched for cover in their homes.
@hey.its.whitWichita, Kansas | 101 mph winds reported from this morning’s storm ⚡️♬ original sound – w h i t n i e
Lightning lit up the sky while winds were reported to have reached triple digits. The storm appeared to hit in the wee hours of the morning. It was an unanticipated wake-up call for those in Wichita.
@watyourvegsbob #badweather #wichitakansas #rain#thunder ♬ August 10 x HoodTrap – prodsxmz
The aftermath brought about fallen trees and debris, which residents documented on social media. Power lines were down on highways while limbs landed on automobiles.
@annettelawless Some people sharing their storm damage in Wichita with me. Early morning storms brought strong wind gusts and rain. Some gusts reaching 100+ miles an hour. #kswx #Wichita #Kansas #Weather #Storm #Stormdamage ♬ original sound – Annette Lawless
Severe damage was also reported at Crestview Country Club in Wichita, home of the Korn Ferry Tour’s Blue Cross and Blue Shield Wichita Open.
Violent storm impacts Wichita golf course.
Images from the course were posted to social media on Tuesday morning. Infrastructure and landscaping were shown to be destroyed, meaning a massive cleanup will be needed to ensure the event starts on time.
On Tuesday, pre-tournament festivities were expected to take place. Those included the Children’s Adaptive Golf Clinic, the Cuffs vs. Axes Golf Tournament, and the Cox Business Pro-Am Pairings Party. The course was forced to close “until at least noon” according to local news reports.
“There was reported 80 mph wind around the Crestview area early this morning that created damage to the hospitality suites on holes 17 and 18. Other damages include smaller vendor tents around the golf course. There are downed trees on the golf course that will require efforts from the golf course superintendent staff to clean up as well.”
-Korn Ferry Tour spokesperson Tom Hearn
Photos of the course put the extent of the damage on full display. Hospitality tents were down, as were smaller vendor areas and trees.
Unfortunate situation at the @KornFerryTour I’m hearing the course is in really really bad shape after a bad storm ripped thru early this morning. Trees down everywhere. Terrible situation for everyone. pic.twitter.com/pN5VowKey5
— Monday Q Info (@acaseofthegolf1) June 17, 2025
Despite the storm damage, the Wichita Open is still slated to kick off on Thursday. Staff will do its best to clean up the mess in the days leading up to the opening round.