National Championships Day 1

Before I give you today's results let me give you a heads up on a great opportunity. The Milwaukee Tour is playing the Irish course at Whistling Straits on Saturday October 10th. Registration deadline is Sunday the 20th (today as you'll most likely be reading this). Why not get together with a few others and take a road trip? I'm going.

Day 1 is done, well almost as the nightly scoring party is still going on. LPGA player and Morning Drive contributor Paige McKenzie is doing a meet and greet with the players this evening. Last night David Feherty was in his usual form at the dinner and kept the audience in stitches for most of an hour. He was sincerely appreciative of the $116,000 check the Tour presented to his Troops First Foundation. Our contribution was $1200 for which I thank you all.

The Palmer flight played the Palmer Private course today. Mike Kelley leads our contingent of 4 Palmers with an 80, currently T26. He had one birdie in his round but he probably didn't get into the Skins game. Dean Sengstock and Jeff Gallagher shot matching 82s placing them T43. Dean's first National Championship round included two birdies, Jeff had one as well. Ben Savage shot an 85 with one birdie in his first go at Nationals. Tomorrow they take on the Greg Norman course and true desert golf.

There were three MN players in the Hogan flight playing the TPC Stadium course, perhaps the most difficult course to start on, certainly the most frustrating. Anthony Hugelen posted a 92 suffering 5 doubles and a triple which is typical of the diabolical Pete Dye design as only about half the field broke 90. Steve Buan shot 96 and Nate Plagge shot 97 for their first ever National Championship rounds. Tomorrow they take on the Nicklaus Tournament course. Not much of a let up.

Matt Harter, our lone Sarazen, played the Nicklaus course today posting a 106. His highlight was a birdie on the par 3 third. Tomorrow he gets the Stadium.

Jeff Loeffler played the front nine of the Norman Course in 45 but he says then the heat (101 today) took it's toll on the back. His 98 positions him T52 in Jones and he will play the Palmer course tomorrow.

Jeffrey McVay is T33 in Snead flight after shooting a 108 on the Nicklaus course. His round featured one par on the par 5 seventh hole. He'll be over on the Stadium course tomorrow.

Everyone is keeping an eye on the forecast as there is a chance of rain both Monday and Tuesday. While the folks in California need the water we are all hoping the desert dries the air so much it can't even rain. Tomorrow's forecast high is 103. A cool day by their standards for this time of year.

You can keep up with all the results either through the AmTour app or at gcamtour.com.