Briefs: McDonough wins qualifier, Mee 1 shot out; Ace for Shea

MISSOULA — Missoula Sentinel graduate Kade McDonough, now a freshman at the University of Utah, won a U.S. Open qualifier held at Missoula country Club on Tuesday.

McDonough holed a birdie putt on 18 for a 66 and a one-stroke over fellow qualifiers Clayton Tribus of Wisconsin and Joey Moore of Billings. 

Tribus and Moore fired 68s along with University of Montana golf coach Jim Mee. The trio went to a playoff, with Tribus getting a birdie on the first extra hole to qualify. On the second playoff hole Moore made par while Mee bogeyed. 

Mee, a Libby native who won an Open qualifier in 2012, shot a 31 on the back nine for his 67. 

He’ll be an alternate for the U.S. Open Final Qualifying, a 36-hole event at one of 13 sites around the country either this coming Monday or on June 2.  

Moore, who turned pro after winning his second Montana State Am winner in 2023, won a U.S. Amateur Qualifier in 2021. 

The U.S. Open is at Oakmont (Pennsylvania) Country Club June 12-15. 

Eagle Bend ace for Shea

BIGFORK — Rick Shea used a 7-iron to ace 153-yard No. 16 on the Bear Nine of Eagle Bend Golf Club on May 8. 

Witnesses were Bill Wipprecht and Stuart Hilleboe.