Chalmer, Klauk are Milwaukee’s best
MILWAUKEE - Greg Chalmers had success with his new putting grip and Jeff Klauk only needed nine putts in his first nine holes for each to shoot 6-under-par 64s during a blustery first round of the PGA Tour’s U.S. Bank Championship yesterday.
Chalmers started his day with two bogeys before making birdies on five of his final six holes on the front nine, including a 55-foot putt on No. 4 followed by a 26-footer on No. 5. He also birdied the final three holes.
Klauk shot 5 under on the front nine and made his only mistake with a bogey at No. 12. He rebounded with back-to-back birdies and finished the round with four straight pars, including a save from the rough on the 18th.
Frank Lickliter II, Tag Ridings, Jason Gore, and Skip Kendall all finished with 66s.
The tournament, which is opposite the British Open and needs a new title sponsor, gives many players a realistic shot at winning. Like Chalmers, who was eighth on the Nationwide Tour money list last season and has only one second-place finish on the PGA Tour in 2000. Still, a bogey-bogey start for the lefthanded Chalmers could have buried him early.
“I’m 35 years old, I’m not 19 years old, I’ve got an idea of what it takes to stay competitive and ultimately if it was going to be a good day, certainly, getting down on it wasn’t going to help,’’ Chalmers said. “I got intrigued when I holed a 60 footer and a 30 footer two holes in a row. That sort of got my attention.’’
Klauk, the son of the longtime superintendent at the TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., finished fourth at The Honda Classic in March.
But the 31-year-old tour rookie has struggled in his last four events, finishing out of contention at the Memorial and being cut three other times including at the John Deere Classic last week.
“These tournaments are definitely an opportunity, but you still have to play well,’’ Klauk said. “I think if you play well any week, you’re going to have a chance on Sunday.’’
Joe Ogilvie, who won this tournament in 2007, shot a 3-under 67 and is the most recent champion to play here after last year’s winner, Richard S. Johnson, skipped the event to play at the British Open.
Ogilvie said Johnson told him to win in Milwaukee.
“It would be nice to sort of repeat, I guess,’’ Ogilvie said. “I do have the first parking space up there. I don’t feel like I’m the defending champion, but I feel very comfortable having won and being the last winner here.’’ 