University Park, Pa., June 14, 2006 - Penn State's David Dankmyer (Gibsonia, Pa.), who will be a senior next fall, shot 5-over par 147 at the Champion Lakes Golf Course in Ligonier, Pa., to qualify for the 81st U.S. Public Links Championship to be held July 10-15 in Bremerton, Wash. Dankmyer finished second with rounds of 75 and 72 among a field of 52 competitors in the sectional qualifying tournament held June 13. Nittany Lion freshman Tyler Tarney (Galena, Ohio), who recently won the Franklin County (Ohio) Amateur, finished third in the event with two rounds of 75.

Annually, over 6,000 people attempt to qualify for the U.S. Public Links, the winner of which receives and exemption into the U.S. Amateur Championship and has been historically invited to compete in the Masters. The event consists of 36 holes of stroke play qualifying the first two days from which the top 64 players advance to match play.