The Daily Wrap-up: Round 2, U.S. Bank Championship
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Greg Chalmers picked up the nickname "Snake" with his Australian golfing buddies.
There's no flute or entrancing rhythm to his game, just a smooth putting stroke that's kept him at the top of the leaderboard at the U.S. Bank Championship. Chalmers actually is scared of snakes despite seeing quite a few of him in his life growing up in Perth, Australia.
"There's nothing to do with snakes whatsoever," Chalmers said. "I don't charm snakes. I don't own any snakes. I have seen a load of snakes."
Chalmers stayed on top of the leaderboard Friday, firing a second-round 67 to move to 9-under 131 and build a two-shot lead over Chris Riley (66), Jeff Klauk (69) and Kris Blanks (63). Kevin Na (65), Marc Turnesa (65) and Steve Flesch (65) were another stroke back at 6.
A day after blustery conditions made the field post the worst scores in a round since 2004, temperatures plunged into the 60s and rain showers made it feel closer to the British Open at Turnberry than summertime in the Midwest at a tournament that's looking for a new title sponsor.
While Chalmers' nickname has nothing to do with snakes, he's made a winding path to the PGA TOUR, going back and forth between the top level and the Nationwide Tour in recent years. He never had thoughts of giving up because he said he wasn't overwhelmed.
"If I'd been struggling on the Nationwide Tour to keep my card out there, I probably would've had some serious thoughts about my career or certainly looked at going to another tour somewhere else in Europe or Japan, but I was fortunate I got my card back two out of three years I've been out there," he said.
"A career is a long time, it's a rollercoaster ride. I've had some good years out here on the PGA TOUR and I've had some really poor years. You've got to keep trying to improve and ride the waves, you know?"
Chalmers, who last led a tournament at the halfway point nine years ago and finished tied for second at the Kemper Open, again made a mistake early after starting his day at No. 10.
He bogeyed the par-3 14th after his wayward tee shot left him needing a 12-foot putt to make par. But, just like Thursday's opening round, Chalmers came on strong with birdies at Nos. 17 and 18. He also had consecutive birdies at Nos. 4 and 5 for the second straight day.
"It was a bit of a battle for me off the tee today, but it was a working-man's 3 under," he said.
The working man mentality should serve him well this weekend after changing conditions continued on Friday, keeping scores down and the cut line at 1-over 141.
The 35-year-old Chalmers, who started playing golf at age 13 and idolized Greg Norman, and the rest of the field dealt with stiff wind and warm temperatures on Thursday and said he'd only brought one sweater with him for the tournament.
"You don't expect it in the summertime," said Riley, who also only has one sweater with him for the tournament. "The weather is totally different today."
Norman won this tournament in 1989, and Chalmers is on the right track after needing just one putt on 21 of the 36 holes he's played.
"I made most putts inside 10 feet," Chalmers said. "At this level, if you're going to lead the tournament or be competitive, you've got to make them."
Meanwhile, Klauk didn't have nearly the same success as Friday, when he was co-leader. He was 1 over through his first nine holes and needed to rally to stay two shots back. Still, Klauk likes his position heading into the weekend.
"You can't overpower this golf course," he said. "Anybody can play. It's just a good, old-style golf course."
One that might not return next year. U.S. Bank is dropping its title sponsorship and tournament organizers say a new one must be found to continue the shortest event on TOUR at the 6,759-yard, par-70 Brown Deer Park Golf Course.
Na is 20th in FedExCup standings this year and is the highest ranked player in Milwaukee.
"That only means one thing -- I need to win," Na said. "That's what I need on my resume is a W out here. A win's a win even though it's an opposite field event."
| Other notables at the U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Friday's Best |
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The par-5 18th hole was the easiest with a Friday scoring average of 4.574.
The par-4 fourth hole was the toughest with a Friday scoring average of 4.419.
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Tim Herron chipped in for birdie at both the seventh and ninth holes during the second round. He's 1 under for the event after Friday's 69. 
Kris Blanks made six birdies on the back nine and just one bogey to card a second-round 63. He needed just 25 putts in the second round. SECOND-ROUND NOTEBOOK
By Joel Schuchmann, PGA TOUR Staff
• Eighty players made the cut this week at 1-over-par 141, with low 70 and ties making the cut. After three rounds at the U.S. Bank Championship, the field will be reduced from 80 players to low 70 and ties via the PGA TOUR's secondary cut, which calls for the field to be reduced to the low 70 players and ties if the 36-hole cut results in more than 78 players making the cut.
• The cut at 1-over-par was the highest cut at the U.S. Bank Championship since an identical cut in 2004.
• The 36-hole leader Greg Chalmers was tied for the lead following 36 holes at one previous PGA TOUR event -- the 2000 Nissan Open where he opened 67-66. Chalmers ultimately finished T18.
• Chalmers is looking to join Greg Norman (1989) as Australian champions at the U.S. Bank Championship.
• Chalmers continued his fine putting in Round 2, as he totaled just 25 on the day (73' 5" total feet) and has needed only 49 putts through 36 holes. In Round 1, Chalmers' made putts totaled 175' 2".
• To read more of the second-round notebook, click here.
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