U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee
Encyclopedia
The U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee was a regular golf
tournament on the PGA Tour
. It was played annually in July in the Milwaukee
suburb of Brown Deer, Wisconsin
. The tournament was held at the Brown Deer Park Golf Course
. U.S. Bancorp
was the main sponsor of the tournament. The 2009 purse was $4,000,000, with $720,000 going to the winner. The tournament was run by Milwaukee Golf Charities, Inc., with proceeds from the tournament going to a variety of Wisconsin charities.
Professional golf in Milwaukee started sporadically with events in 1940 and 1951 and a seven year run from 1955-1961. In 1968, the tournament made a strong reappearance on the Tour as the Greater Milwaukee Open (or GMO), 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 1968 U.S. Open
winner, decided to play in the GMO instead of the British Open, in order to help the reborn tournament.
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.
The tournament has been played at various golf courses in the Milwaukee area:
The tournament was nationally televised beginning in 1989. Tiger Woods
made his professional debut at the Milwaukee tournament on August 29, 1996, four days after winning his third consecutive U.S. Amateur title. He made the cut at the GMO and finished tied for 60th place, earning a modest $2,544.http://www.pgatour.com/players/00/87/93/results/1996.html
The event ended after the 2009 tournament. 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. The Greater Milwaukee Charities organization has closed it offices and has shut down.
U.S. Bank in Milwaukee
Greater Milwaukee Open
Milwaukee Open Invitational
Miller Open Invitational
Miller High Life Open
Blue Ribbon Open
Milwaukee Open
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
tournament on the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
. It was played annually in July in the Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
suburb of Brown Deer, Wisconsin
Brown Deer, Wisconsin
Brown Deer is a village in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. It is a suburb of Milwaukee. The population was 11,999 at the 2010 census...
. The tournament was held at the Brown Deer Park Golf Course
Brown Deer Park Golf Course
Brown Deer Park Golf Course is a public golf course maintained as part of the Milwaukee County Park System. The course was designed in 1929 by George Hanson. Since then, the course has been partially redesigned, the clubhouse has become a historic site and the course is currently home to the U.S....
. U.S. Bancorp
U.S. Bancorp
U.S. Bancorp is a diversified financial services holding company, headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the parent company of U.S. Bank, the fifth largest commercial bank in the United States based on $330 billion in assets. U.S. Bank ranks as the sixth largest bank in the U.S. based on...
was the main sponsor of the tournament. The 2009 purse was $4,000,000, with $720,000 going to the winner. The tournament was run by Milwaukee Golf Charities, Inc., with proceeds from the tournament going to a variety of Wisconsin charities.
Professional golf in Milwaukee started sporadically with events in 1940 and 1951 and a seven year run from 1955-1961. In 1968, the tournament made a strong reappearance on the Tour as the Greater Milwaukee Open (or GMO), competing against the British Open
The Open Championship
The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico...
by offering a $200,000 purse (second highest on the Tour) with a $40,000 first prize. Lee Trevino
Lee Trevino
Lee Buck Trevino is an American professional golfer. He is an icon for Mexican Americans, and is often referred to as "The Merry Mex" and "Supermex". He won six major championships over the course of his career.-Early life:...
, the 1968 U.S. Open
U.S. Open (golf)
The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour...
winner, decided to play in the GMO instead of the British Open, in order to help the reborn tournament.
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.
The tournament has been played at various golf courses in the Milwaukee area:
- North Hills Country Club, Menomonee FallsMenomonee Falls, WisconsinMenomonee Falls is a village in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States, and is part of the Greater Milwaukee area. The population was 35,626 at the 2010 census, making it the most populous village in Wisconsin. It is the fourth largest community in Waukesha County...
, 1940, 1951, 1960-61 - Blue Mound Golf Club, WauwatosaWauwatosa, WisconsinWauwatosa is a city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States, and was incorporated on May 27, 1897. As of the 2006 census estimate, the city's population was 44,798. Wauwatosa is located immediately west of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is a part of the Milwaukee metropolitan area...
, 1955 - Tripoli Country Club, Milwaukee, 1956-9, 1971-72
- North Shore Country Club, MequonMequon, WisconsinMequon is a city in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. It had a population of 21,823 at the 2000 census, and an estimated population of 23,739 in July 2009...
, 1968-70 - Tuckaway Country Club, FranklinFranklin, Milwaukee County, WisconsinFranklin is a city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. Franklin is a suburb of Milwaukee with a population of 35,451 as of the 2010 census.-Transportation:...
, 1973-93 - Brown Deer Park Golf Course, Brown DeerBrown Deer, WisconsinBrown Deer is a village in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. It is a suburb of Milwaukee. The population was 11,999 at the 2010 census...
, 1994-2009.
The tournament was nationally televised beginning in 1989. Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods
Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No...
made his professional debut at the Milwaukee tournament on August 29, 1996, four days after winning his third consecutive U.S. Amateur title. He made the cut at the GMO and finished tied for 60th place, earning a modest $2,544.http://www.pgatour.com/players/00/87/93/results/1996.html
The event ended after the 2009 tournament. U.S. Bank announced that it would not renew its sponsorship after the 2009 event. Secondary sponsor Aurora Health Care
Aurora Health Care
Aurora Health Care is a not-for-profit health care system headquartered in Milwaukee and serving eastern Wisconsin. The system has 13 hospitals, over 100 clinics, and more than 80 community pharmacies. With 29,000 employees including 3,385 physicians, Aurora is one of Wisconsin's largest...
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
The Open Championship
The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico...
, along with low attendance and TV ratings, were reasons cited by U.S. Bank for pulling out of the event. The Greater Milwaukee Charities organization has closed it offices and has shut down.
Winners
U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee- 2009
Bo Van PeltBo Van PeltBo Van Pelt is an American professional golfer who has played on both the Nationwide Tour and the PGA Tour. He has featured in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Rankings.Van Pelt was born in Richmond, Indiana... - 2008
Richard S. Johnson - 2007 Joe OgilvieJoe OgilvieNorman Joseph Ogilvie is an American professional golfer.Ogilvie was born in Lancaster, Ohio and graduated from Duke University. He currently plays on the PGA Tour and picked up his first win on tour at the U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee in 2007...
- 2006 Corey PavinCorey PavinCorey Allen Pavin is an American professional golfer on the PGA Tour. He spent over 150 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Rankings between 1986 and 1997.-Biography:...
- 2005 Ben CraneBen CraneBenjamin McCully Crane is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour.-Amateur career:Crane was born in Portland, Oregon. He was age 5 when his grandfather taught him how to play golf, and he grew up playing at the nearby Portland Golf Club where Ben Hogan won the 1945 Portland Open...
U.S. Bank in Milwaukee
- 2004
Carlos FrancoCarlos FrancoCarlos Daniel Franco is a Paraguayan professional golfer. He is the brother of golfer Angel Franco.Franco was born in Asunción, Paraguay. He comes from a poor background and grew up in a one-room, dirt-floor home. His father was a greenkeeper and caddy, and he has five brothers, all of whom...
Greater Milwaukee Open
- 2003 Kenny PerryKenny PerryJames Kenneth Perry is an American professional golfer who currently plays on both the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour, for which he became eligible following his 50th birthday.-Early years:...
- 2002 Jeff SlumanJeff SlumanJeffrey George Sluman is an American professional golfer who has won numerous professional golf tournaments including six PGA Tour victories.-Early years:...
- 2001
Shigeki MaruyamaShigeki MaruyamaShigeki Maruyama is a Japanese professional golfer.Maruyama was born in Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan, near Tokyo. He attended Nihon University and turned professional in 1992. He is known for his ever-present smile on the golf course which has given rise to his nickname of the "Smiling Assassin"... - 2000 Loren RobertsLoren RobertsLoren Lloyd Roberts is an American professional golfer.-Early life:Roberts was born in San Luis Obispo, California. He competed for San Luis Obispo Senior High School and Cal Poly-SLO...
- 1999 Carlos FrancoCarlos FrancoCarlos Daniel Franco is a Paraguayan professional golfer. He is the brother of golfer Angel Franco.Franco was born in Asunción, Paraguay. He comes from a poor background and grew up in a one-room, dirt-floor home. His father was a greenkeeper and caddy, and he has five brothers, all of whom...
- 1998 Jeff SlumanJeff SlumanJeffrey George Sluman is an American professional golfer who has won numerous professional golf tournaments including six PGA Tour victories.-Early years:...
- 1997 Scott HochScott HochScott Mabon Hoch is an American golfer, who represented his country in the Ryder Cup in 1997 and 2002.Hoch was born in Raleigh, North Carolina. He was a member of the golf team at Wake Forest University before graduating in 1978. He also played on the winning U.S. team in the Eisenhower Trophy...
- 1996 Loren RobertsLoren RobertsLoren Lloyd Roberts is an American professional golfer.-Early life:Roberts was born in San Luis Obispo, California. He competed for San Luis Obispo Senior High School and Cal Poly-SLO...
- 1995 Scott HochScott HochScott Mabon Hoch is an American golfer, who represented his country in the Ryder Cup in 1997 and 2002.Hoch was born in Raleigh, North Carolina. He was a member of the golf team at Wake Forest University before graduating in 1978. He also played on the winning U.S. team in the Eisenhower Trophy...
- 1994 Mike SpringerMike SpringerMichael Paul Springer is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour.Springer was born in San Francisco, California. He attended the University of Arizona. He turned pro in 1988 and joined the PGA Tour in 1991.Springer began his career in professional...
- 1993 Billy MayfairBilly MayfairWilliam Fred Mayfair is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour .-Early years and amateur career:Mayfair was born in Phoenix, Arizona. Before his fifteenth birthday, he had won a number of junior golf tournaments. In 1981, he was on the cover of Boys' Life magazine as "golf's...
- 1992
Richard ZokolRichard ZokolRichard Francis "Dick" Zokol is a Canadian professional golfer who has played on the Canadian Tour, PGA Tour and Nationwide Tour, winning at least one event in each venue.... - 1991 Mark BrooksMark Brooks (golfer)Mark David Brooks is an American professional golfer.Brooks was born in Fort Worth, Texas. He attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he was a three-time All-American as a member of the golf team. He turned professional in 1983.Brooks has seven wins on the PGA Tour, including one major,...
- 1990 Jim Gallagher, Jr.Jim Gallagher, Jr.James Thomas Gallagher, Jr. is an American professional golfer and sportscaster.Gallagher was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. His father, a career club pro, started him in golf at age 6. He attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Gallagher turned pro in 1983 and joined the PGA Tour in...
- 1989
Greg NormanGreg NormanGregory John Norman AO is an Australian professional golfer and entrepreneur who spent 331 weeks as the world's Number 1 ranked golfer in the 1980s and 1990s... - 1988 Ken Green
- 1987 Gary HallbergGary HallbergGary George Hallberg is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour, Nationwide Tour, and Champions Tour....
- 1986 Corey PavinCorey PavinCorey Allen Pavin is an American professional golfer on the PGA Tour. He spent over 150 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Rankings between 1986 and 1997.-Biography:...
- 1985 Jim ThorpeJim Thorpe (golfer)Jimmy Lee Thorpe is an American professional golfer, currently playing on the Champions Tour.Thorpe was born in Roxboro, North Carolina, the ninth of the twelve children of a fairway superintendent. He attended Morgan State University before turning pro in 1972. He won three times on the PGA Tour...
- 1984 Mark O'MearaMark O'MearaMark Francis O'Meara is an American professional golfer who was a prolific tournament winner on the PGA Tour and around the world from the mid 1980s to the late 1990s...
- 1983 Morris HatalskyMorris HatalskyMorris Hatalsky is an American professional golfer.-Early years and amateur career:Hatalsky was born in San Diego, California. He started in golf at age 10, when his older brother bought him a set of junior clubs. As an amateur, he won the 1968 Mexico National Junior Championship...
- 1982 Calvin PeeteCalvin PeeteCalvin Peete is an American professional golfer. He was the most successful African-American on the PGA Tour, with 12 wins, before the emergence of Tiger Woods....
- 1981 Jay HaasJay HaasJay Dean Haas is an American professional golfer.Haas was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and grew up in Belleville, Illinois. He attended Wake Forest University and was a member of the NCAA Championship team of the middle 1970s with Curtis Strange and Bob Byman that Golf World has called "the...
- 1980 Billy KratzertBilly KratzertWilliam August Kratzert is an American professional golfer and sportscaster, who has played on both the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour....
- 1979 Calvin PeeteCalvin PeeteCalvin Peete is an American professional golfer. He was the most successful African-American on the PGA Tour, with 12 wins, before the emergence of Tiger Woods....
- 1978 Lee ElderLee ElderRobert Lee Elder is an American golfer. He is best remembered for becoming the first African-American to play in the Masters Tournament in 1975.-Background and family:...
- 1977 Dave EichelbergerDave EichelbergerMartin Davis Eichelberger, Jr. is an American professional golfer who has won several tournaments at both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour levels....
- 1976 Dave HillDave Hill (golfer)James David Hill was an American professional golfer. He was the brother of golfer Mike Hill.Hill was born in Jackson, Michigan. He attended the University of Detroit, where he played on the golf team. Hill won 13 times on the PGA Tour, three of which came during his career year of 1969, when he...
- 1975 Art Wall
- 1974 Ed SneedEd SneedEd Sneed is an American professional golfer, sportscaster and course design consultant, who played on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour....
- 1973 Dave StocktonDave StocktonDavid Knapp Stockton is an American professional golfer who has won numerous tournaments on both the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour....
- 1972 Jim ColbertJim ColbertJames Joseph Colbert is an American professional golfer.Colbert was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey. He attended Kansas State University, where he finished second in the NCAA golf championships in 1964, before graduating and turning professional in 1965.Colbert won eight times on the PGA Tour,...
- 1971 Dave EichelbergerDave EichelbergerMartin Davis Eichelberger, Jr. is an American professional golfer who has won several tournaments at both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour levels....
- 1970 Deane BemanDeane BemanDeane R. Beman is an American professional golfer, golf administrator, and golf course architect.Beman was born in Washington, D.C. and graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, where he played for the varsity golf team. Following graduation, Beman had a career in the insurance...
- 1969 Ken StillKen StillKenneth Allan Still is an American professional golfer who has played on both the PGA Tour and the Senior PGA Tour.Still was born in Tacoma, Washington. During his early twenties, he developed a friendship with Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale. He turned professional in...
- 1968 Dave StocktonDave StocktonDavid Knapp Stockton is an American professional golfer who has won numerous tournaments on both the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour....
- 1962-67 No tournament
Milwaukee Open Invitational
- 1961 Bruce CramptonBruce CramptonBruce Crampton is an Australian professional golfer.Crampton was born in Sydney, New South Wales, and attended Kogarah High School from 1948-1950. He turned professional in 1953....
- 1960 Ken VenturiKen VenturiKenneth Venturi is an American former professional golfer and golf broadcaster.-Early years and amateur career:Venturi was born in San Francisco, California. He learned golf from an early age, and developed his game at Harding Park Golf Course and other public courses in the area...
Miller Open Invitational
- 1959
Gene LittlerGene LittlerGene Alec Littler is an American professional golfer. Known for a solid temperament and nicknamed "Gene the Machine" for his smooth rhythmical swing, he once said that, "Golf is not a game of great shots. It's a game of the best misses. The people who win make the smallest mistakes."-Early years... - 1958
Cary MiddlecoffCary MiddlecoffEmmett Cary Middlecoff was a dentist who gave up his practice to become a professional golfer on the PGA Tour in the 1940s....
Miller High Life Open
- 1957 Ken VenturiKen VenturiKenneth Venturi is an American former professional golfer and golf broadcaster.-Early years and amateur career:Venturi was born in San Francisco, California. He learned golf from an early age, and developed his game at Harding Park Golf Course and other public courses in the area...
- 1956 Ed FurgolEd FurgolEdward Joseph Furgol was an American professional golfer.When he was twelve years of age, Furgol injured his left elbow when he fell off a set of parallel bars. The elbow never healed correctly and Furgol was left with a crooked arm as a result...
- 1955 Cary MiddlecoffCary MiddlecoffEmmett Cary Middlecoff was a dentist who gave up his practice to become a professional golfer on the PGA Tour in the 1940s....
- 1952-54 No tournament
Blue Ribbon Open
- 1951 Joe Kirkwood, Jr.Joe Kirkwood, Jr.Joe Kirkwood, Jr. is a former professional golfer on the PGA Tour, and a motion picture actor.Kirkwood was born in Melbourne, Australia. His father Joe Kirkwood, Sr., who was a golf pro and who taught him to play golf, is acknowledged as having put Australian golf on the world map. In 1948, he...
- 1941-50 No tournament
Milwaukee Open
- 1940 Ralph GuldahlRalph GuldahlRalph J. Guldahl was an American professional golfer who was one of the top players in the sport for three years in the late 1930s.-Early life until 1939:Guldahl was born in Dallas, Texas...
Tournament highlights
- 1968: Dave StocktonDave StocktonDavid Knapp Stockton is an American professional golfer who has won numerous tournaments on both the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour....
wins the first Greater Milwaukee Open despite twice striking spectators with his drives in the final round. He beats Sam SneadSam SneadSamuel Jackson Snead was an American professional golfer who was one of the top players in the world for most of four decades. Snead won a record 82 PGA Tour events including seven majors. He failed to win a U.S...
by four shots. - 1969: Ken StillKen StillKenneth Allan Still is an American professional golfer who has played on both the PGA Tour and the Senior PGA Tour.Still was born in Tacoma, Washington. During his early twenties, he developed a friendship with Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale. He turned professional in...
shoots a final round 65 to beat Gary PlayerGary PlayerGary Player DMS; OIG is a South African professional golfer. With his nine major championship victories, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of golf. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974. Player has won 165 tournaments on six continents over six...
by two strokes. The win all but clinches Still a spot on the Ryder Cup team1969 Ryder CupThe 18th Ryder Cup Matches were held at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England.The competition ended in a draw at 16 to 16 points, when America's Jack Nicklaus conceded a missable putt to Britain's Tony Jacklin at the 18th hole in one of the most famous gestures of sportsmanship in all...
. - 1970: Deane BemanDeane BemanDeane R. Beman is an American professional golfer, golf administrator, and golf course architect.Beman was born in Washington, D.C. and graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, where he played for the varsity golf team. Following graduation, Beman had a career in the insurance...
makes the most of his withdrawal from the Open Championship to play in Milwaukee instead. He beats Don MassengaleDon MassengaleDonald Ray Massengale, Sr. was an American professional golfer who won tournaments on both the PGA Tour and the Senior PGA Tour.-Career:...
, Ted Hayes, and Dick Crawford by three shots. - 1974: Ed SneedEd SneedEd Sneed is an American professional golfer, sportscaster and course design consultant, who played on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour....
is the tournament's first wire-to-wire winner. He beats Grier Jones by 4 shots. - 1975: 51-year-old Art Wall, Jr.Art Wall, Jr.Arthur Jonathan Wall, Jr. was an American golfer.Wall was born in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. He attended Duke University, graduating in 1949 with a business degree....
beats Gary McCordGary McCordGary Dennis McCord is an American professional golfer, commentator, author, and actor.-Early life and career:McCord was born in San Gabriel, California and raised in southern California. He was a two-time Division II All-American at UC Riverside...
by one shot. - 1978: Lee ElderLee ElderRobert Lee Elder is an American golfer. He is best remembered for becoming the first African-American to play in the Masters Tournament in 1975.-Background and family:...
defeats Lee TrevinoLee TrevinoLee Buck Trevino is an American professional golfer. He is an icon for Mexican Americans, and is often referred to as "The Merry Mex" and "Supermex". He won six major championships over the course of his career.-Early life:...
on the 8th hole of a sudden death playoff. - 1979: Black golfer Calvin PeeteCalvin PeeteCalvin Peete is an American professional golfer. He was the most successful African-American on the PGA Tour, with 12 wins, before the emergence of Tiger Woods....
, 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 SimonsJim Simons (golfer)James Bradley Simons was an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour in the 1970s and 1980s....
, Lee Trevino, and Victor RegaladoVictor RegaladoVictor Regalado is a Mexican professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour.Regalado was born and raised in Tijuana, Mexico. As an amateur, he played in tournaments in the San Diego, California area just across the border from his home. He turned professional in 1971.Regalado has just over 30...
by five shots. - 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.
- 1985: Jack NicklausJack NicklausJack William Nicklaus , nicknamed "The Golden Bear", is an American professional golfer. He won 18 career major championships on the PGA Tour over a span of 25 years and is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional golfers of all time. In addition to his 18 Majors, he was runner-up a...
competes in Milwaukee for the first time as a professional. He finishes second, four strokes behind winner Jim ThorpeJim Thorpe (golfer)Jimmy Lee Thorpe is an American professional golfer, currently playing on the Champions Tour.Thorpe was born in Roxboro, North Carolina, the ninth of the twelve children of a fairway superintendent. He attended Morgan State University before turning pro in 1972. He won three times on the PGA Tour...
. - 1986: Corey PavinCorey PavinCorey Allen Pavin is an American professional golfer on the PGA Tour. He spent over 150 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Rankings between 1986 and 1997.-Biography:...
wins in Milwaukee for the first time. He birdies the 4th hole of a sudden death playoff to defeat Dave BarrDave Barr (golfer)David Allen Barr is a Canadian professional golfer who has played on the Canadian Tour, PGA Tour and Champions Tour.Barr was born in Kelowna, British Columbia. He attended Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma and was a member of the golf team. He finished as runner-up in the 1972 Canadian...
. - 1989: Greg NormanGreg NormanGregory John Norman AO is an Australian professional golfer and entrepreneur who spent 331 weeks as the world's Number 1 ranked golfer in the 1980s and 1990s...
competes in Milwaukee for the first time. He beats Andy BeanAndy BeanThomas Andrew Bean is an American professional golfer who previously played on the PGA Tour and currently plays on the Champions Tour...
by 3 shots. - 1993: Billy MayfairBilly MayfairWilliam Fred Mayfair is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour .-Early years and amateur career:Mayfair was born in Phoenix, Arizona. Before his fifteenth birthday, he had won a number of junior golf tournaments. In 1981, he was on the cover of Boys' Life magazine as "golf's...
holes a 20-foot chip shot on the fourth hole of a three-way sudden death playoff to defeat Mark CalcavecchiaMark CalcavecchiaMark John Calcavecchia is an American professional golfer and a former PGA Tour member. During his professional career, he has won thirteen PGA Tour events, including the 1989 Open Championship. Calcavecchia currently plays on the Champions Tour.-Early years:Calcavecchia was born in Laurel,...
and earn his first PGA Tour title. Ted SchulzTed SchulzTheodore James Schulz is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour, Nationwide Tour and Champions Tour....
, who also made the playoff, had dropped out on the first playoff hole after making bogey. - 1997: Loren RobertsLoren RobertsLoren Lloyd Roberts is an American professional golfer.-Early life:Roberts was born in San Luis Obispo, California. He competed for San Luis Obispo Senior High School and Cal Poly-SLO...
attempt to become the first Greater Milwaukee Open champion to defend his title is foiled when Scott HochScott HochScott Mabon Hoch is an American golfer, who represented his country in the Ryder Cup in 1997 and 2002.Hoch was born in Raleigh, North Carolina. He was a member of the golf team at Wake Forest University before graduating in 1978. He also played on the winning U.S. team in the Eisenhower Trophy...
sinks a 60-foot chip shot for eagle on the 72nd hole to beat Roberts and David SutherlandDavid Sutherland (golfer)David Sutherland was an American professional golfer.Following in his older brother Kevin's footsteps, Sutherland attended Fresno State and was an All-American golfer there. He turned pro in 1989....
by one shot. - 1999: Carlos FrancoCarlos FrancoCarlos Daniel Franco is a Paraguayan professional golfer. He is the brother of golfer Angel Franco.Franco was born in Asunción, Paraguay. He comes from a poor background and grew up in a one-room, dirt-floor home. His father was a greenkeeper and caddy, and he has five brothers, all of whom...
wins for the second time in his rookie season on the PGA Tour. He beats Tom LehmanTom LehmanThomas Edward Lehman is an American professional golfer.Lehman was born in Austin, Minnesota, but Alexandria, Minnesota is credited as his official Minnesota hometown. He attended the University of Minnesota, graduating with a degree in Business/Accounting and turned professional in 1982. It took...
by two shots. - 2003: Kenny PerryKenny PerryJames Kenneth Perry is an American professional golfer who currently plays on both the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour, for which he became eligible following his 50th birthday.-Early years:...
birdies the 72nd hole to win by one shot over Steve Allan and Heath SlocumHeath SlocumTyler Heath Slocum is an American professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour.-Early years:Slocum was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He attended St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School in Bunkie, Louisiana from 1986 until 1987 . Slocum learned the game of golf from his father, Jack...
. - 2006: Corey Pavin sets a 9-hole PGA Tour scoring record, 26, on his way to a first round 61. Pavin, who had first won in Milwaukee in 1986, goes on to win the tournament for a second time, beating Jerry KellyJerry KellyJerome Patrick Kelly is an American professional golfer.Kelly was born in Madison, Wisconsin. He graduated from the University of Hartford in 1989 and turned professional later that year, but didn't make it onto the PGA Tour until 1996. This followed a successful 1995 season on the second tier...
by two shots. - 2009: Bo Van PeltBo Van PeltBo Van Pelt is an American professional golfer who has played on both the Nationwide Tour and the PGA Tour. He has featured in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Rankings.Van Pelt was born in Richmond, Indiana...
wins the final edition of the tournament. He defeats John MallingerJohn MallingerJohn Charles Mallinger is an American professional golfer.Mallinger was born in Escondido, California and is the youngest of four children. He graduated from Escondido High School and earned his Bachelor's Degree in Marketing from California State University, Long Beach...
on the second hole of a sudden death playoff.