Spencer Tibbits gets into U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills as alternate

Despite missing an automatic berth to the U.S. Open in final qualifying, Fort Vancouver High alum Spencer Tibbits did get a spot at Shinnecock Hills after all.

Tibbits lost in a nine-hole playoff at the Creswell, Ore.-qualifier on June 9 and became a first alternate.

The United States Golf Association held seven spots in the field for those players who could potentially become exempt. With two claiming spots, five alternates from final qualifying were added Monday and that included Tibbits.

Tibbits played 45 total holes over two days in the final qualifying event at Emerald Valley Golf Club. The final three playoff holes were contested the next morning after it became too dark to continue after playing six extra holes.

PGA Tour golfer Andrew Putnam won the automatic berth over Tibbits with a par on the ninth playoff hole.

This will be Tibbits second U.S. Open, having last played the major in 2019 at Pebble Beach as an amateur following his sophomore season at Oregon State.

He finished his four-year career with the Beavers in 2021 with a scoring average of 71, the second-best in OSU history. Tibbits was also a three-time Washington high school state champion.

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