Clarkston’s Joel Dahmen back for second season on PGA Tour

Joel Dahmen is back for his second year on the PGA Tour, with about $4,000 to spare.

Dahmen made nearly $350,000 in his rookie year on the tour. That’s certainly a respectable figure, but it wasn’t enough to retain his playing privileges. The former Clarkston High standout returned to the Web.com Tour Finals for the chance at a top 25 placing and a PGA Tour card.

Dahmen appeared to be safely inside the top 25, even after missing the cut at the Web.com Tour Championship that wrapped up Monday in Atlantic Beach, Florida. However, several players withdrew from the tournament to fly across the country and prepare for this week’s Safeway Open, the inaugural event on the 2018 PGA season, leaving Dahmen’s status in jeopardy.

Dahmen earned his card by finishing No. 24 on the Finals money list. He was $4,006 ahead of No. 26 Adam Svensson.

“There were some tense moments Monday,” Dahmen said in a phone interview.

Dahmen had a number of tense moments in his rookie season. His priority ranking resulted in 16 PGA events, giving him fewer opportunities compared to veteran players making 25-30 starts.

Big money is on the line every week, amplifying the pressure to make cuts and finish strong.

“Being a rookie is hard, they say it’s the hardest year,” Dahmen said. “You’re in different cities and the courses are new. The other thing is the money. I couldn’t believe the money you’re playing for. When it came around to making a cut or when you have a putt that’s the difference between $25,000 instead of $2,500 (on the Web.com), it’s a big difference.”

Dahmen tied for ninth at the AT&T Byron Nelson and followed it with a tie for 18th at the FedEx St. Jude Classic. He teed it up with Dustin Johnson in the final round in Dallas and shot a 67.

“I was top 10 on the weekend in Reno (Barracuda Championship) and in the Wyndham Championship (in August), I just didn’t finish off those tournaments well,” he said. “I played pretty well over the last month. I feel good, recharged and reenergized for my second year on tour.”

Dahmen has the same priority ranking as his rookie season but he’s optimistic he will get into 4-5 more tournaments.

Spokane’s Alex Prugh came up just short twice in his bid for a PGA Tour card. Prugh won $125,534 in Web.com regular-season events, finishing 36th on the money list. The top 25 secured PGA cards for the 2018 season.

An additional 25 PGA cards were available in the four-tournament Web.com Finals. Prugh finished strong with a 4-under 67 Monday to finish tied for 20th at the Web.com Tour Championship.

Prugh made $9,348 to boost his Web.com Finals earnings to $27,368. He finished 35th on the Finals money list. The former Ferris Saxon and Washington Husky has fully exempt status on the Web.com in 2018.

Kirk Triplett, who was born in Moses Lake and attended Pullman High, has made $928,577 this season on the Champions Tour. He’s 11th in the Charles Schwab Cup standings heading into the four-event playoffs.

Triplett took second in the U.S. Senior Open in July.

Chris Williams, the Moscow High product who rose to No. 1 in the world amateur rankings while at the University of Washington, had a solid season on the Mackenzie Tour (formerly PGA Tour-Canada).

Williams finished No. 22 on the order of merit with $27,478. He had four top 10 finishes and a 69.43 scoring average.

Jared du Toit, a former University of Idaho standout who finished his career at Arizona State, was No. 23.

Former Gonzaga Bulldog Sean Walsh played in 11 events and finished No. 102 on the order of merit.

The top five on the order of merit earned spots on the 2018 Web.com Tour.

Former Washington State Cougar Kim Welch is having a strong season on the Symetra Tour. She has four top 10s and has earned $37,075. She’s No. 17 on the money list with one event, the Symetra Tour Championship, remaining this weekend.

The top 10 earn LPGA Tour cards.