Greg Chalmers, a PGA Tour competitor from Colleyville, is one of five golfers who shares the lead late in the first round of today’s 36-hole U.S. Open qualifier at Dallas Athletic Club.
Chalmers posted an opening 66 at the par-70 venue, joining Hudson Johnson, Alex King, Anthony Broussard and James Byrne atop the early leader board. Westlake resident Todd Hamilton, a fellow touring pro who won the 2004 British Open, fired an opening 67.
Four qualifiers from the Dallas site will advance to the U.S. Open, June 16-19 at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md.
LSU golfer John Peterson, the 2011 NCAA champ from Paschal High School in Fort Worth, posted an opening 68 and is two strokes off the lead. Peterson will begin his second round shortly.
Other first-round scores from competitors with Tarrant County connections include: Hurst’s Mark Walker (69), Fort Worth’s Franklin Corpening (71), Southlake’s Brian Dwyer (72) and Fort Worth’s Troy Lewis (78). In addition, Dallas teen Jordan Spieth, a Texas signee who became a gallery favorite by becoming a weekend contender at the last two HP Byron Nelson Championships (2010, 2011), opened with a 71.
Dallas resident Justin Leonard, winner of the 1997 British Open, posted a 70 in his first round.
Two touring pros posted over-par scores in their opening rounds: Dallas resident Harrison Frazar (72) and Austin resident Tom Kite (75), the 1992 U.S. Open champ who competes primarily on the Champions Tour.
_ Jimmy Burch
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