Jackson fires even-par 70 in opening round

WICHITA, Kan. – University of Memphis golfer Isaiah Jackson shot an even-par 70 Thursday in the opening round of the Wichita Open, a stop on the newly named Korn Ferry Tour, the PGA's developmental tour.

Jackson overcame a double-bogey 6 on his opening hole and finished the round with six birdies. He made the turn at 2-over par, but had birdies on Nos. 11, 13, 14 and 17 to close at even par. Four golfers – Taylor Moore, Michael Hebert, Will Cannon and Henrik Norlander shot 7-under 63s to share the first-round lead.

Jackson, who will be a senior this fall, was playing in his first event on the developmental circuit, formerly known as the Web.com Tour. He helped himself by hitting 14 of 18 greens in regulation.

Jackson earned a sponsor's exemption into the field by winning last December's Patriot All-America Invitational at Litchfield Park, Ariz.

Jackson, from Golden Miss., is part of a tournament field that includes PGA Tour veterans Robert Garrigus, Daniel Summerhays, Dicky Pride, Paul Stankowski, Frank Lickliter II and John Merrick. Former Memphian Casey Wittenberg was in the field, but withdrew after Thursday's opening round.

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