Greater Milwaukee Open

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Template:Short description Script error: No such module "For". Template:Infobox golf tournament 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 Template:Coord
Tripoli Country Club[6] Milwaukee 2 1971–1972 Template:Coord
Tuckaway Country Club Franklin 21 1973–1993 Template:Coord
Brown Deer Park Golf Course Brown Deer 16 1994–2009 Template:Coord

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

Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.

See also

References

Template:Reflist

External links

Template:Former PGA Tour Events Template:Coord

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  5. ↑ U.S. Bank will remain title sponsor for three more years
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ U.S. Bank pulls its support as golf tournament's title sponsor
  12. ↑ Ricochet Golf Wins For Dave StocktonTemplate:Dead link
  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
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