Inspiration from a competitor leads Chalmer to victory

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It wasn't pretty. Bogeys on the final hole rarely are. Given the circumstances, though, this particular three-putt bogey certainly was a very welcomed way to end a work week.

That's because when all was said and done, it added up to Australian Greg Chalmers' playoff victory over Henrik Bjornstad in the Henrico County Open. And the best thing was Chalmers could see it coming. Not the bogey, the victory.

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Greg Chalmers won the Henrico County Open last Sunday.

Inside the Numbers

Greg Chalmers on the 2008 Nationwide Tour

Date Event Finish 1/27/08 Panama Movistar Championship T8 2/03/08 Mexico Open Presented by Corona T5 2/17/08 HSBC New Zealand PGA Championship CUT 2/24/08 Moonah Classic T36 3/30/08 Chitimacha Louisiana Open Pres'd by Dynamic Industries T7 4/06/08 Livermore Valley Wine Country Championship at Wente Vineyards CUT 4/20/08 Athens Regional Foundation Classic T13 4/27/08 Henrico County Open 1

Chalmers could feel it in his swing. His 2008 results on the Nationwide Tour (three additional top 10s) and a tie for second in the European PGA Tour's Johnnie Walker Classic practically screamed it.

"I felt like good things were just around the corner,'' said Chalmers, 34, who won $90,000 and moved into second place with $161,154 among "The 25" on the Nationwide Tour.

As far as winning with a bogey goes, Chalmers saw it as a little payback. A bogey on the 108th hole at the 2007 qualifying tournament cost him slot on the PGA TOUR this season.

"You don't have to draw a picture of it,'' he said of his three-putt from 75 feet that followed Bjornstad's tee shot into a water hazard on the par 3. "A win is a win. I had to do something right to be in the position to win.''

The victory also solidified Chalmers' decision to make a change in swing coaches approximately 18 months ago. The move was made based on Chalmers' frustrating performance on the PGA TOUR in 2006 when he made just eight of 28 cuts and finished 203rd on the money list, far and away his worst showing in seven seasons.

"It was a struggle,'' said Chalmers, who had advanced to the PGA TOUR that year off a 14th-place finish on the 2005 Nationwide Tour money list. "I played like rubbish. I just didn't know where the ball was going.''

So Chalmers enlisted the aid of Colin Swatton, who works primarily with Australian wunderkind Jason Day. Day, 20, became the youngest winner in Nationwide Tour history in 2007 when he won the Legend Financial Group Classic and finished fifth on the final money list. Swatton cleaned up a few technical flaws. The most important change gave Chalmers better distance control on the scoring shots from 120 yards in.

"I just wasn't very good from there,'' Chalmers said. "We found a technique that works and is safe. It was a massive change for me.''

Day often spoke of his admiration for Chalmers while the Aussie pair toiled on the Nationwide Tour last season. Matter of fact, after Day missed the 36-hole cut at the 2007 Henrico County Open, he decided to become part of the gallery following Roland Thatcher and Chalmers in the third round.

Only Day didn't necessarily look -- or dress -- like Day. He wore a Boston Red Sox baseball cap, pulled down to his eyebrows. Sunglasses also were part of, well, a sheepish Day's desired disguise.

"I was trying not to be noticed,'' Day said. "I just wanted to see how I measured up to what they were doing.''

Day learned.

"A lot,'' he said.

Day isn't aware of it, but he returned the favor to his Aussie mate. Chalmers watched last season as Day poured his heart and soul into game improvement, relentlessly working long hours in his successful quest for a PGA TOUR card. Basically the young pup taught the old dog a new trick. Day's diligence struck a chord with Chalmers, who admitted he often was lax when it game to time spent on the range.

"I was guilty of taking for granted that I was going to play well in the past,'' Chalmers said. "I saw the drive and dedication Jason had for where he wanted to go.''

So Chalmers decided a drastic change was in order, especially during off weeks. Chalmers tripled his work load, spending between five to six hours a day working on his game when he wasn't competing.

"Before that it might have been two,'' he said. "I think Colin has made me more accountable, especially when I practice. It's with a purpose.''

The improvement didn't happen overnight. Chalmers finished 44th on the Nationwide Tour money list in 2007, but saw encouraging signs despite the bitter disappointment he experienced in q-school. He took his medicine and was determined to come on strong in 2008.

"There was no time for woe is me,'' the father of two said. "I've got too many bills to worry about that. Besides I got what I deserved the last two seasons. I know what the Nationwide Tour is all about.

"You have to really battle. Finishing 15th, 20th, 25th or 30th every week isn't good enough. You've got to run in the top five if you're going to make it.''

From the looks of things, Chalmers is right on course with a quarter of the season gone.

"I like where I am now,'' he said.