M. Putnam, trio of Huskies qualify for U.S. Open

The longest day in golf turned into one of the seminal moments of Michael Putnam’s career.

Putnam shot 12-under and tied for first Monday in the 36-hole sectional round at Brookside Golf & Country Club and The Lakes Golf & Country Club (Columbus, OH.) to qualify for the 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay.

Putnam, 32, is a University Place native and the 292nd-best golfer, according to the World Golf Rankings. He shot 68 in his first round Monday at Brookside and 64 on his second 18 at The Lakes to match the low score of PGA Tour player Samuel Saunders, grandson of Arnold Palmer.

Of the 120 golfers comp in Putnam’s sectional, the top 15 qualified for the U.S Open. The field included a large contingent of PGA Tour players: Steve Stricker, Stewart Cink, Vijay Singh, Aaron Baddeley, Rory Sabbatini, Ricky Barnes, Robert Allenby, Bo Van Pelt and Nick Watney. Only Van Pelt made it.

There were 10 sectional qualifiers Monday across the U.S. with players vying for 60 U.S. Open spots. The grueling, pressure-filled second and final qualifying stage is known as “golf’s longest day.”

It was crushing for Mackenzie Hughes of Charlotte, NC. Vying for one of three spots at the sectional at Tumble Creek Club in Cle Elum, Hughes led before double-bogeying his final hole to place fourth. Former University of Washington players Cheng-Tsung Pan (-2) played the final four holes at three under to earn medalist honors, while 28-year-old Richard Lee (-1) and 36-year-old Troy Kelly (-1) finished tied for second to qualify for the U.S. Open. Hughes’ collapse made him first alternate.

This will mark Pan’s third U.S. Open and fourth major. He’s in the midst of an incredible run of golf after finishing second last week at the NCAA Championships.

A few notable local players fell flat. Putnam’s younger brother, Andrew Putnam, a fellow PGA tour member, failed to qualify after shooting 74 at Ridgeway Country Club in the sectional qualifier held in Memphis. He withdrew after playing the front nine on his second 18.

Andrew, who played in the PGA Tour’s Memorial Tournament in Dublin, OH., the past weekend, tweeted Sunday that his flight to Memphis was canceled. Stranded at a Columbus airport during a layover, he and his caddy were forced to drive nine hours and arrived in town just a few hours before his 7 a.m. tee time.

Seattle native Fred Couples withdrew from his sectional qualifier in Newport Beach, CA., because of his traditional bad back, according to a USGA statement. Couples, 55, was trying to play in his first U.S. Open since 2006. His best finish came in 1991 when “Boom Boom” tied for third at Hazeltine National Golf Club.