Spokane’s Alex Prugh qualifies for U.S. Open; Clarkston’s Joel Dahmen falls just short

Spokane’s Alex Prugh is returning to the U.S. Open for the first time since 2007 when he competed as an amateur.

Clarkston native Joel Dahmen came up just short Monday in his sectional qualifying bid in Columbus, Ohio.

Prugh shot a pair of 70s for a 4-under 140 at RattleSnake Point Golf Club in Ontario, Canada, where 37 players competed for four spots. Tom Hoge and Sepp Straka shared top honors at 139.

Harris English birdied his final hole to finish at 4 under and create a three-way tie with Prugh and Nate Lashley for the final two spots. All three made par on the first playoff hole before Prugh advanced with the only par on the second hole. Lashley went on to earn the last berth. English is the first alternate.

The U.S. Open is June 13-16 at Pebble Beach. Prugh qualified for the 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club, but the former Ferris Saxon and Washington Husky didn’t make the cut.

Prugh tied for 53rd with rounds of 69, 72, 68 and 75 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February. He’s made nine of 17 PGA Tour cuts this season with his best finish a tie for 13th with partner Alex Cejka among 79 two-man teams at the Zurich Classic in New Orleans.

Dahmen had rounds of 67 at Brookside Golf and Country Club and 71 at Scioto C.C. to finish 4 under. That looked like it would put Dahmen in a seven-man playoff for one spot but Kyoung-Hoon Lee birdied the 18th to finish 5 under and snag the 14th and final spot in the field of 121.

Dahmen played in his first major last month, making the cut and finishing tied for 71st at the PGA Championship. Dahmen shared 68th at the Memorial Tournament that concluded Sunday in Dublin, Ohio.