By Tony Webeck

Victorian Stephen Allan will 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 the United States, Allan delivered a superb round of four-under-par 68 in the second round to force a playoff with Washington amateur R.J. Manke.

Even par following the first round of the 36-hole qualifier, Allan, 47, 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 the 2002 Australian Open champion 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.

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 available. AUSSIE RESULTS:

Meadow Springs Country Club, Richland, Washington

(Top 2 qualify)

2 Stephen Allan 72-68—140 The Bear’s Club, Jupiter, Florida

(Top 6 qualify)

T11 Karl Vilips (a) 73-73—146

Woodmont Country Club, Rockville, Maryland

(Top 4 qualify)

T25 Travis Smyth 71-75—146

Brookside GC and The Lakes GC, Columbus, Ohio

(** Incomplete - top 16 qualify)

T48 Cameron Davis 73

T88 Craig Hocknull 76

WD Aaron Baddeley 76

Springfield Country Club, Springfield, Ohio

(Top 7 qualify)

T44 Lucas Herbert 72-74—146

T57 Aaron Pike 73-77—150

Long Cove Club, Hilton Head, South Carolina

(Top 5 qualify)

WD Curtis Luck 74