Essentially playing with a rental set of clubs, Chase Koepka grinded his way into contention in his first Frank B. Fuhrer Jr. Invitational.

The younger brother of four-time major champion Brooks Koepka, Chase lost his clubs and clothes in transit when he left Hartford, Conn., after playing in the PGA Tour’s Travelers Championship over the weekend.

He flew to Myrtle Beach, S.C., and then to Latrobe before finally arriving a little light to Pittsburgh Field Club for the opening 36 holes Monday.

Did he roll his eyes? Maybe. Did he panic? No chance.

Koepka had a cousin from Canonsburg bring him some golf clothes — he also has family in the Ligonier area — and the great-nephew of Pirates great Dick Groat borrowed a set of clubs from nearby Oakmont Country Club.

While the sticks took some getting used to, Koepka eventually took a liking to them. Just like he did the course.

He followed a nondescript 71 in the opening round with a 4-under-par 66, tying for the low round of the day, and trails by one shot heading into Tuesday’s third round at 3-under 137.

The final round of the 37th Fuhrer Invitational is Wednesday, with the winner bagging $40,000.

“They were definitely different clubs,” said Koepka, who missed the cut in Hartford and has conditional status on the Korn Ferry Tour. He made five birdies in the second round Monday.

“The irons are more upright. The putter is four inches longer. It’s not what I am used to. I was 3-over after 10, and it was a lot of trial and error from there. I guess I was 6-under my last 28. Maybe I shouldn’t go looking for my clubs so fast.”

Koepka was a late addition, joining the 40-man field June 15 when 2019 Fuhrer champion Mike Gligic withdrew to play in this week’s PGA Tour stop, the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit.

“I accepted right away when they called,” Koepka said. “(Defending champion and two-time winner) Daniel McCarthy told me about how great the event is. Mr. Fuhrer is friends with (Groat). It was great to get the invite.

“This is one of the best tournaments there is. These are probably the best greens I have ever putted on.”

Asked how brother Brooks would have reacted to losing his clubs and clothing, Chase said, “You can’t lose your clubs when you fly private.”

The co-leaders are Pittsburgh native and Shady Side Academy graduate Jack Katarincic and Korn Ferry Tour and PGA Tour Latinoamerica regular Ryan Sullivan, a pro from North Carolina. They are locked at 4-under.

Katarincic, who turned professional this week after finishing his career at Miami (Ohio), used home-course knowledge to work his way into the lead.

He was 6-under at one point and opened with a 3-under 67 to build an early two-shot lead. Before he could process his opening 18, he was back on the tee to begin Round 2 and carded a 69.

He made eight birdies and an eagle in 36 holes.

Katarincic, 23, the low amateur at the Fuhrer the past two years, timed his first pro event to be this tournament.

“This is the course I grew up on, and this event is so special,” he said. “I have played here thousands of times. You have to play smart here, or you can get in a lot of trouble quick. I have played here a ton but have never seen some of these pins before.”

Sullivan was lurking closely behind Katarincic after a 5-under opening nine to his second round. He shot 70 and 66, carding 10 birdies and a hole-out eagle on the par-4 second hole.

Patrick Flavin, who also shot 66 in the second round, is tied with Koepka and Zachary Oakley at 3-under, and three players sit at 1-under. They are amateur Palmer Jackson, a rising junior at Notre Dame and a Franklin Regional graduate, Penn State golf coach T.J. Howe and Christo Greyling.

“You have to be patient and play with a lot of discipline here,” Jackson said. “The pins are challenging. Hopefully the tucked pins will be less tucked (Tuesday).”

Eric Cole and Dan McCarthy are tied at even-par 140, and Matt Gurska and Penn-Trafford alum Dan Obremski are 1-over. Three-time champion David Bradshaw is in a pack at 2-over.

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