Greater Milwaukee Open

For the LPGA Tour event, see Milwaukee Jaycee Open.
U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee
Tournament information
LocationBrown Deer, Wisconsin
Established1968
Course(s)Brown Deer Park Golf Course
Par70
Length6,759 yards (6,180 m)
Tour(s)PGA Tour
FormatStroke play
Prize fundUS$4,000,000
Month playedJuly
Final year2009
Tournament record score
Aggregate260 Loren Roberts (2000)
260 Ben Crane (2005)
260 Corey Pavin (2006)
To par−24 Loren Roberts (2000)
Final champion
Bo Van Pelt
Location map
Brown Deer Park GC
Location in the United States
Brown Deer Park GC
Location in Wisconsin

The Greater Milwaukee Open was a regular golf tournament in Wisconsin on the PGA Tour. For 42 years, it was played annually in the Milwaukee area, the final sixteen editions in the north suburb of Brown Deer at the Brown Deer Park Golf Course. U.S. Bancorp was the main sponsor of the tournament in its final years and the last purse in 2009 was $4 million, with a winner's share of $720,000. The event was run by Milwaukee Golf Charities, Inc., with proceeds going to a variety of Wisconsin charities.

History

The tournament debuted in 1968 as the Greater Milwaukee Open (or GMO),[1] competing against the British Open by offering a $200,000 purse (second highest on the Tour) with a $40,000 first prize. Lee Trevino, the recent U.S. Open winner, chose to play in the more lucrative GMO instead of the 1968 British Open.[2]

Art Wall Jr., the 1959 Masters champion, won in 1975 at age 51 for his first tour win in nine years,[3][4] his fourteenth and final win on the tour. Wall was one stroke ahead of 27-year-old runner-up Gary McCord, later a noted golf commentator, but winless in his career on the PGA Tour.

In 2004, U.S. Bank signed on as title sponsor. In July 2006, U.S. Bank and Milwaukee Golf Charities Inc. announced that U.S. Bank will remain the sponsor for at least three more years.[5]

The tournament was played at four courses in the Milwaukee area:

Venue City Events Years Coordinates
North Shore Country Club Mequon 3 1968–1970 43°12′47″N 87°56′56″W / 43.213°N 87.949°W / 43.213; -87.949
Tripoli Country Club[6] Milwaukee 2 1971–1972 43°09′11″N 87°58′01″W / 43.153°N 87.967°W / 43.153; -87.967
Tuckaway Country Club Franklin 21 1973–1993 42°53′56″N 88°00′07″W / 42.899°N 88.002°W / 42.899; -88.002
Brown Deer Park Golf Course Brown Deer 16 1994–2009 43°09′18″N 87°57′11″W / 43.155°N 87.953°W / 43.155; -87.953

It was nationally televised beginning in 1989, and Tiger Woods made his professional debut in 1996 at Brown Deer with a 67 on August 29,[7] four days after winning his third consecutive U.S. Amateur title in Oregon.[8] At age 20, he made the cut and tied for 60th place, earning a modest $2,544.[9][10]

The event ended when U.S. Bank announced that it would not renew its sponsorship after the 2009 event. Secondary sponsor Aurora Health Care also announced that it would substantially cut back on its financial involvement. Before U.S. Bank's sponsorship, the tournament survived thanks to the help of late philanthropist Jane Pettit. Its slot on the PGA Tour schedule against the British Open, along with low attendance and TV ratings, were reasons cited by U.S. Bank for pulling out of the event.[11] The Greater Milwaukee Charities organization has closed its offices and has shut down.

Tournament highlights

  • 1968: Dave Stockton wins the first Greater Milwaukee Open despite twice striking spectators with his drives in the final round. He beats Sam Snead by four shots.[12]
  • 1969: Ken Still shoots a final round 65 to beat Gary Player by two strokes. The win all but clinches Still a spot on the Ryder Cup team.[13]
  • 1970: Deane Beman makes the most of his withdrawal from the Open Championship to play in Milwaukee instead. He beats Don Massengale, Ted Hayes, and Richard Crawford by three shots.[14]
  • 1974: Ed Sneed is the tournament's first wire-to-wire winner. He beats Grier Jones by 4 shots.[15]
  • 1975: 51-year-old Art Wall Jr. beats Gary McCord by one shot.[16]
  • 1978: Lee Elder defeats Lee Trevino on the 8th hole of a sudden death playoff.[17]
  • 1979: Black golfer Calvin Peete, who did not take up golf until he was 23 years old, wins for the first time on the PGA Tour. He shoots a final round 65 to beat Jim Simons, Lee Trevino, and Victor Regalado by five shots.[18]
  • 1982: Calvin Peete wins at Milwaukee and on the PGA Tour for the second time and in almost carbon copy fashion from his 1979 win. He finishes two strokes ahead of Victor Regalado who was also runner-up in 1979.[19]
  • 1985: Jack Nicklaus competes in Milwaukee for the first time as a professional.[20] He finishes second, three strokes behind winner Jim Thorpe.[21]
  • 1986: Corey Pavin wins in Milwaukee for the first time. He birdies the 4th hole of a sudden death playoff to defeat Dave Barr.[22]
  • 1989: Greg Norman competes in Milwaukee for the first time. He beats Andy Bean by 3 shots.[23]
  • 1993: Billy Mayfair holes a 20-foot chip shot on the fourth hole of a three-way sudden death playoff to defeat Mark Calcavecchia and earn his first PGA Tour title. Ted Schulz had dropped out on the first playoff hole after making bogey.[24]
  • 1996: Tiger Woods makes his professional debut at the age of 20 four days after winning his third consecutive U.S. Amateur title.[7][8] He shoots -7 for the tournament (67-69-73-68), including his first-ever hole-in-one as a professional on the 14th hole during his final round, to finish tied for 60th and earn $2,544.[9][10][25]
  • 1997: Loren Roberts attempt to become the first Greater Milwaukee Open champion to defend his title is foiled when Scott Hoch sinks a 60-foot chip shot for eagle on the 72nd hole to beat Roberts and David Sutherland by one shot.[26]
  • 1999: Carlos Franco wins for the second time in his rookie season on the PGA Tour. He beats Tom Lehman by two shots.[27]
  • 2003: Kenny Perry birdies the 72nd hole to win by one shot over Stephen Allan and Heath Slocum.[28]
  • 2006: Corey Pavin sets a 9-hole PGA Tour scoring record, 26, on his way to a first round 61.[29] Pavin, who had first won in Milwaukee in 1986, goes on to win the tournament for a second time, beating Jerry Kelly by two shots.[30]
  • 2009: Bo Van Pelt wins the final edition of the tournament. He defeats John Mallinger on the second hole of a sudden death playoff.[31]

Winners

Year Winner Score To par Margin of
victory		 Runner(s)-up Winner's
share ($)
U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee
2009 Bo Van Pelt 267 −13 Playoff John Mallinger 720,000
2008 Richard S. Johnson 264 −16 1 stroke Ken Duke 720,000
2007 Joe Ogilvie 266 −14 4 strokes Tim Clark
Tim Herron
Charlie Wi		 720,000
2006 Corey Pavin (2) 260 −20 2 strokes Jerry Kelly 720,000
2005 Ben Crane 260 −20 4 strokes Scott Verplank 684,000
2004 Carlos Franco (2) 267 −13 2 strokes Fred Funk
Brett Quigley		 630,000
Greater Milwaukee Open
2003 Kenny Perry 268 −12 1 stroke Stephen Allan
Heath Slocum		 630,000
2002 Jeff Sluman (2) 261 −23 4 strokes Tim Herron
Steve Lowery		 558,000
2001 Shigeki Maruyama 266 −18 Playoff Charles Howell III 558,000
2000 Loren Roberts (2) 260 −24 8 strokes Franklin Langham 450,000
1999 Carlos Franco 264 −20 2 strokes Tom Lehman 414,000
1998 Jeff Sluman 265 −19 1 stroke Steve Stricker 324,000
1997 Scott Hoch (2) 268 −16 1 stroke Loren Roberts
David Sutherland		 234,000
1996 Loren Roberts 265 −19 Playoff Jerry Kelly 216,000
1995 Scott Hoch 269 −15 3 strokes Marco Dawson 180,000
1994 Mike Springer 268 −16 1 stroke Loren Roberts 180,000
1993 Billy Mayfair 270 −18 Playoff Mark Calcavecchia
Ted Schulz		 180,000
1992 Richard Zokol 269 −19 2 strokes Dick Mast 180,000
1991 Mark Brooks 270 −18 1 stroke Robert Gamez 180,000
1990 Jim Gallagher Jr. 271 −17 Playoff Ed Dougherty
Billy Mayfair		 162,000
1989 Greg Norman 269 −19 3 strokes Andy Bean 144,000
1988 Ken Green 268 −20 6 strokes Mark Calcavecchia
Jim Gallagher Jr.
Donnie Hammond
Dan Pohl		 126,000
1987 Gary Hallberg 269 −19 2 strokes Wayne Levi
Robert Wrenn		 108,000
1986 Corey Pavin 272 −16 Playoff Dave Barr 72,000
1985 Jim Thorpe 274 −14 3 strokes Jack Nicklaus 54,000
1984 Mark O'Meara 272 −16 5 strokes Tom Watson 54,000
1983 Morris Hatalsky 275 −13 Playoff George Cadle 45,000
1982 Calvin Peete (2) 274 −14 2 strokes Victor Regalado 45,000
1981 Jay Haas 274 −14 3 strokes Chi-Chi Rodríguez 45,000
1980 Billy Kratzert 266 −22 4 strokes Howard Twitty 36,000
1979 Calvin Peete 269 −19 5 strokes Victor Regalado
Jim Simons
Lee Trevino		 36,000
1978 Lee Elder 275 −13 Playoff Lee Trevino 30,000
1977 Dave Eichelberger (2) 278 −10 2 strokes Morris Hatalsky
Gary McCord
Mike Morley		 26,000
1976 Dave Hill 270 −18 3 strokes John Jacobs 26,000
1975 Art Wall Jr. 271 −17 1 stroke Gary McCord 26,000
1974 Ed Sneed 276 −12 4 strokes Grier Jones 26,000
1973 Dave Stockton (2) 276 −12 1 stroke Homero Blancas
Hubert Green		 26,000
1972 Jim Colbert 271 −13 1 stroke Buddy Allin
Chuck Courtney
George Johnson
Grier Jones		 25,000
1971 Dave Eichelberger 270 −14 1 stroke Ralph Johnston
Bob Shaw		 25,000
1970 Deane Beman 276 −12 3 strokes Richard Crawford
Ted Hayes Jr.
Don Massengale		 22,000
1969 Ken Still 277 −11 2 strokes Gary Player 20,000
1968 Dave Stockton 275 −13 4 strokes Sam Snead 40,000

Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.

See also

References

  1. ^ D'Amato, Gary (July 15, 2007). "Thrilling ride remembered". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. p. 5C.
  2. ^ "Weiskopf and Trevino near money lead". The Dispatch. Lexington, North Carolina. UPI. July 10, 1968. p. 12.
  3. ^ "Art Wall a winner at Milwaukee". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. (Florida). Associated Press. July 7, 1975. p. 1C.
  4. ^ "I don't think 51 is old - golfer Art Wall". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. (Florida). Associated Press. July 7, 1975. p. 4C.
  5. ^ U.S. Bank will remain title sponsor for three more years
  6. ^ "Tripoli layout". Milwaukee Sentinel. July 13, 1972. p. 4, part 2.
  7. ^ a b Stapleton, Arnie (August 30, 1996). "Woods shoots a 67 in first pro round". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. p. 1D.
  8. ^ a b Sirak, Ron (August 26, 1996). "Tiger stakes his claim to golf history". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. p. 2B.
  9. ^ a b Manoyan, Dan (September 2, 1996). "One shot is all Roberts needs". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. p. 1C.
  10. ^ a b "Roberts takes playoff to win in Milwaukee". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). news services. September 2, 1996. p. 2B.
  11. ^ U.S. Bank pulls its support as golf tournament's title sponsor
  12. ^ Ricochet Golf Wins For Dave Stockton
  13. ^ Non-winner Ken Still wins at Milwaukee
  14. ^ Deane Beman Wins At Milwaukee Open
  15. ^ Ed Sneed Wins At Milwaukee Open
  16. ^ 51-Year-Old Art Wall Wins Milwaukee Open
  17. ^ Elder beats Trevino in playoff to win Milwaukee Open
  18. ^ Calvin Peete breezes to Milwaukee Open victory
  19. ^ Calvin Peete victor at Milwaukee Open
  20. ^ Nicklaus-Nicklaus Set To Compete In Milwaukee Open
  21. ^ Thorpe bests Nicklaus
  22. ^ Pavin defeats Barr on 4th playoff hole
  23. ^ Norman claims Milwaukee title, with late spurt
  24. ^ Mayfair avoids Milwaukee Slip Up
  25. ^ 1996 Greater Milwaukee Open Leaderboard The Golf Channel on NBC
  26. ^ Hoch wins Milwaukee
  27. ^ Franco wins 2nd tournament in 9 weeks
  28. ^ Perry wins Greater Milwaukee Open
  29. ^ Pavin Shoots 26 to Set PGA Tour’s 9-Hole Mark
  30. ^ Pavin ends 10-year title drought in Milwaukee
  31. ^ Bo Van Pelt wins PGA Milwaukee title playoff

43°09′18″N 87°57′11″W / 43.155°N 87.953°W / 43.155; -87.953

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