Victorian Stephen Allan will make his return to the US Open for the first time since 2010 after qualifying at Meadow Springs Country Club in Washington today.
One of nine Australians chasing a spot at Torrey Pines next week in six of the nine final qualifiers played throughout America on Monday, US time, Allan delivered a superb round of four-under 68 in the second round to force a playoff with Washington amateur RJ Manke.
Sitting at even-par after the first round of the 36-hole qualifier, Allan looked set to secure one of the two spots on offer in the field of 45 when he made birdie at the par-5 16th to get to five-under, one behind amateur Joe Highsmith and one clear of Manke.
But his first bogey of the round at the par-3 17th and a par at the final hole meant that Allan had to play extra holes to earn his position at Torrey Pines next week.
It will be Allan’s fifth appearance in the US Open where he has a best finish of a tie for 28th in 2005, the year in which Kiwi Michael Campbell triumphed at Pinehurst Resort.
The addition of Allan takes the Australian representation at Torrey Pines to seven, joining Cameron Smith, Marc Leishman, Adam Scott, Brad Kennedy, Wade Ormsby and Matt Jones.
In a positive sign of things to come, outstanding Aussie amateur Karl Vilips finished tied for 11th at his US Open qualifier in Florida, four shots out of the six qualifying places that were available.
Meadow Springs Country Club, Richland, Washington
Top 2 qualify
2 Stephen Allan 72-68—140
The Bear’s Club, Jupiter, Florida
Top 6 qualify
T-11       Karl Vilips (a)     73-73—146
Woodmont Country Club, Rockville, Maryland
Top 4 qualify
T-25       Travis Smyth     71-75—146
Brookside Golf & Country Club and The Lakes Golf & Country Club, Columbus, Ohio
T-48       Cameron Davis 73
T-72Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Aaron Baddeley 76
T-88       Craig Hocknull  76
Springfield Country Club, Springfield, Ohio
Top 7 qualify
T-44       Lucas Herbert   72-74—146
T-57       Aaron Pike         73-77—150
Long Cove Club, Hilton Head, South Carolina
WD Curtis Luck 74
