Porch misses cut at U.S. Open qualifier

LAKEWOOD, Wash. — Kalispell golfer Ryan Porch missed out on qualifying for next week’s U.S. Open, missing the cut at sectional qualifying on Monday at Tacoma Country & Golf Club.

Porch, who qualified for the tournament by winning the local qualifier in Missoula on May 15, was 6-over-par 148 for the 36-hole tournament, missing the cut by seven strokes.

Porch had a rough start to the day, opening his first eight holes with four bogeys. He birdied the ninth and 11th holes, sandwiching another bogey, before closing out the opening round with two more bogeys and five pars for a 5-over-par round.

He controlled his game much better the second time out, starting on the back nine and stringing together a pair of birdies on the 14th and 15th holes to get under par for the second round, but bogeyed the par-5 18th to finish at even par at the turn. He played the front nine mostly even, shooting par on eight holes and bogeying the par-3 third hole to finish his final round 1-over-par.

Derek Barron of Tacoma, Washington, won the tournament with ease on the home course, finishing at 7-under-par 135. The final cut was at 1-under-par, with six other golfers qualified. The top four and ties advanced to the U.S. Open on June 15-18 at Erin Hills in Wisconsin.

Porch is a 2013 grad of Glacier High and just finished his senior season at the University of Idaho, where he helped the Vandals to two Big Sky conference championships.