Greater Milwaukee Open

For the LPGA Tour event, see Milwaukee Jaycee Open.
Greater Milwaukee Open
Tournament information
Location Brown Deer, Wisconsin
Established 1968
Course(s) Brown Deer Park Golf Course
(1994–2009)
Tuckaway Country Club
(1973–1993) in Franklin
Tripoli Country Club
(1971–1972) in Milwaukee
North Shore Country Club
(1968–1970) in Mequon
Par 70, in 2009
Length 6,759 yards (6,180 m)
Tour(s) PGA Tour
Format Stroke play
Prize fund $4.0 million
Month played July
Final year 2009
Tournament record score
Aggregate 260 Loren Roberts (2000)
260 Ben Crane (2005)
260 Corey Pavin (2006)
To par −24 Loren Roberts (2000)
Final champion
United States Bo Van Pelt
Brown
Deer
Location in the United States
Brown
Deer
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 July 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.

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 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,[6] four days after winning his third consecutive U.S. Amateur title in Oregon.[7] At age 20, he made the cut and tied for 60th place, earning a modest $2,544.[8][9]

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.[10] The Greater Milwaukee Charities organization has closed its offices and has shut down.

Winners

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

Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.

Tournament highlights

Multiple winners

Seven men won the GMO more than once, but none more than twice.

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. Stapleton, Arnie (August 30, 1996). "Woods shoots a 67 in first pro round". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. p. 1D.
  7. Sirak, Ron (August 26, 1996). "Tiger stakes his claim to golf history". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. p. 2B.
  8. Manoyan, Dan (September 2, 1996). "One shot is all Roberts needs". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. p. 1C.
  9. "Roberts takes playoff to win in Milwaukee". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). news services. September 2, 1996. p. 2B.
  10. U.S. Bank pulls its support as golf tournament's title sponsor
  11. Ricochet Golf Wins For Dave Stockton
  12. Non-winner Ken Still wins at Milwaukee
  13. Deane Beman Wins At Milwaukee Open
  14. Ed Sneed Wins At Milwaukee Open
  15. 51-Year-Old Art Wall Wins Milwaukee Open
  16. Elder beats Trevino in playoff to win Milwaukee Open
  17. Calvin Peete breezes to Milwaukee Open victory
  18. Calvin Peete victor at Milwaukee Open
  19. Nicklaus-Nicklaus Set To Compete In Milwaukee Open
  20. Thorpe bests Nicklaus
  21. Pavin defeats Barr on 4th playoff hole
  22. Norman claims Milwaukee title, with late spurt
  23. Mayfair avoids Milwaukee Slip Up
  24. Hoch wins Milwaukee
  25. Franco wins 2nd tournament in 9 weeks
  26. Perry wins Greater Milwaukee Open
  27. Pavin Shoots 26 to Set PGA Tour’s 9-Hole Mark
  28. Pavin ends 10-year title drought in Milwaukee
  29. Bo Van Pelt wins PGA Milwaukee title playoff

External links

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

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