Twelve-year-old Spencer Tibbits lost in a playoff on Sunday during the Oregon Junior Golf Tournament of Champions.
But the Vancouver seventh-grader came away from OGA Golf Course in Woodburn, Ore., with an achievement many golfers never enjoy.
Spencer made a hole-in-one from 176 yards on the No. 3 hole, using a No. 4 hybrid club.
“It looked good all the way,” Spencer said.
The ball bounced five times on the green and right into the hole. The shot was witnessed by his two playing partners and a small gallery that included his parents Steve and Ronelle Tibbits, and his sister Hallie.
Spencer said he had come close to a hole-in-one many times.
“Actually, I had to wait a long time” for a first hole-in-one, he said. Spencer has been competing in tournament for six years, and has been one of the top golfers his age in the region.
This summer Spencer won six Oregon Junior Golf tournaments in the ages 12-13 division. Sunday’s Tournament of Champions was only for players who had won tournaments during the summer.
With an 18-hole score of 74 on Sunday, Spencer tied with Bryce Wortman, 13, of Klamath Falls for first place in the division for boys ages 12-13. Wortman won the title on the second playoff hole.
Thompson wins Tri-Mountain title
Yon Thompson shot an 18-hole score of 90 on Saturday to win the 2011 Tri-Mountain Women’s Club Chmpionship at Tri-Mountain Golf Course.
Tammy Bachofner claimed the net-score women’s club championship with a score of 70.
About a dozen women competed in the tournament.
Bowling event set to aid ailing coach
A bowling event to raise funds to support the family of an area baseball coach is planned for Sunday at Crosley Lanes in Vancouver. Bowling will take pace 1-4 p.m. in support of Grant Hanson, a coach for Union High School and Showtime Baseball Club who is battling cancer.
To register to bowl, send an email to TCunlisk@msn.com.
Proceeds from the event and donations will be used by his family to offset medical bills he has incurred due to his illness.
Cash donations can be made to any IQ Credit Union in care of the Grant Hanson Fund.
Basketball tryouts in Camas
The Camas Select Boys Basketball Program has scheduled tryouts for Oct. 3-4.
Teams are forming for boys in grades 5-8 who live within the Camas High School boundary.
Tryout times are 7-9 p.m. Fifth-grade boys tryout on Oct. 3 at Liberty Middle School.
Sixth-grade boys tryout on Oct. 4 at Liberty Middle School.
Seventh-grade boys tryout on Oct. 3 at Skyridge Middle School.
Eighth-grade boys tryout on Oct. 4 at Skyridge Middle School.
Register through Camas Community Education at ww.camascommunityed.org or call 360-833-5544. For additional information, contact Scott Preuninger at scott.preuninger@camas.wednet.edu or 360-521-9329.
Reminders
Breakaway Social Sports — Registration is open for the fall season of Breakaway Social Sports in Vancouver. Leagues are for ages 18 and older. Basketball, flag football, and coed dodgeball leagues are planned for the season that being in the final week of September. Cost for most leagues is $65 per season. To register, or to learn more, visit www.playbreakaway.com.
Vancouver Tennis Center Foundation — Courts and Cocktails, a fund-raising event for the Vancouver Tennis Center Foundation, will be held on Saturday. Tickets cost $50 to the event.
The Vancouver Tennis Center Foundation provides financial assistance for young players as well has contributing to facility improvements at the tennis center. Call Arlene Clark for tickets at 360-695-0563.
Fight Night Boxing — Oct. 8 at the Clark County Events Center. A boxing card to raise funds for the Vancouver Police Activities League. Features professional and amateur matches, and an appearance by boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard. Tickets available through www.vancouverpal.com.
Prairie Girls Basketball Golf Tournament — Saturday at Lakeview Par-3 Golf Course, 2425 N.W. 69th St. Tournament will help fund travel, tournaments and camps for high school girls basketball at Prairie High School. Tee times are at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. for the best-ball tournament. Cost is $50 to play. To learn more or to sign up, call Al Aldridge at 360-253-8690.
Dan Dickau Basketball Academy Golf Tournament — Oct. 1 at Lakeview Par-3 Golf Course. Tee times at 9 a.m. or 11 a.m. The $50 entry fee includes a post-round barbecue lunch.
COMMUNITY SPORTS news is published each Tuesday by The Columbian. To submit items for consideration, send an email to paul.danzer@columbian.com, or call 360-735-4521.
