Chalmers snakes his way to 2-shot lead

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 has 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 them 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 2-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.

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 Chalmer's nickname has nothing to do with snakes, he has 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 roller-coaster 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?"