Australian lefty leads ‘US Bank’

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS MILWAUKEE – 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 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?” Cowboys’ Romo leads celebrity golf tourney STATELINE, Nev. – Tony Romo shot a 3-under 69 to take the first-round lead Friday at the 20th annual American Century Celebrity Golf Championship at Lake Tahoe. The Dallas Cowboys quarterback, who once came within one qualifying spot to play in a U.S. Open, made seven birdies, including three of the first four holes at Edgewood-Tahoe Golf Course. Romo tallied 27 points in the modified Stableford format that awards six points for eagle, three for birdie, one for par, zero for bogey and minus two for double bogey or worse. Former pitcher Rick Rhoden, who has won the tournament a record seven times, was two points off the lead with 25. Next were NHL Hall of Famer Grant Fuhr with 24 and ex-quarterback Trent Dilfer with 23. U.S. Amateur Publinx NORMAN, Okla. – Top-seeded Nick Taylor of Canada has advanced to the finals of the U.S. Amateur Public Links, where he will face Brad Benjamin of Rockford, Ill. Taylor defeated Oklahoma assistant golf coach Phillip Bryan 3 and 2 in the semifinals to earn a spot in today’s championship. The senior-to-be from the University of Washington beat Wesley Bryan from South Carolina in the quarterfinals Friday morning. Benjamin made it to the finals with a 1-up win over Brandon Crick of McCook, Neb. The recent Memphis graduate sealed the win with a birdie on the 18th hole. Benjamin will seek to become only the second lefty to win the U.S. Amateur Public Links. Ralph Howe III did it in 1988. The Public Links winner earns a spot in next year’s Masters.