Simon Nash makes pro debut at Milwaukee Open

BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2003 Greater Milwaukee Open | Preview | 09 Jul 2003

While many of the leading players are either in Scotland this week, or finding a way to prepare for the British Open next week, the USPGA Tour gets on with business with the Greater Milwaukee Open at the Brown Deer Park Golf Course in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The course has been the venue here since 1994 when the event moved from its long time home of Tuckaway Golf Club in Franklin just outside Milwaukee. It is one of the few Municipal courses hosting PGA Tour events.

Tuckaway Golf Club was built in 1929 and designed by George Hansen but underwent changes in the early 1990’s when Roger Packard and Andy North were involved in preparing it for its role in staging a PGA Tour event. The course now measures 6760 yards and as such is one of the shortest on the PGA Tour.

The defending champion is Jeff Sluman who won last year by four shots from Steve Lowery and Tim Herron. Sluman also won the event in 1998. Loren Roberts has also been a two time winner here in recent years.

As a result of the British Open being on next week, the field is somewhat depleted of leading players. Kenny Perry is back after a break of three weeks since his third at the US Open and great form prior. Jerry Kelly, third last week, is here as is Sluman, Mark Calcavecchia, Kirk Triplett, Scott Hoch, Tim Herron and Loren Roberts.

Australaisans entered are Steve Alker, Steve Allan, Greg Chalmers, Gavin Coles, James McLean, Simon Nash, Anthony Painter, John Senden and Grant Waite.

The event sees the arrival on the professional scene of Simon Nash. Nash, from Queensland, was a standout performer on the University of Minnesota team in the last two years, helping them to an NCAA Championship in 2002. He won the Porter Cup that year one of the leading amateur events in the US and this sponsor’s invitation opens an opportunity for him.