Fort Vancouver’s Tibbits makes cut for U.S. Open sectional

Fort Vancouver sophomore Spencer Tibbits shot a 1-under-par 71 at The Home Course in DuPont on Monday in a U.S. Open local qualifier, making the cut for a sectional qualifier in June.

Tibbits, playing as an amateur, tied for fourth, one shot in front a group of seven golfers who had to play off for the two remaining spots. The top seven advance to the sectional on June 8, which is the final qualifier for the U.S. Open.

Cheng-Tsung Pan of Bellevue, a senior at the University of Washington, won the 18-hole local qualifier with a 5-under 67. Cameron Peck of College Station, Texas, was second at 3-under.

Last spring, Tibbits won the 2014 WIAA Class 3A high school state championship. In the fall he won the 3A district tournament and will try to repeat as champion of the Class 3A state tournament, to be played May 27-28 at Kennewick.

Also playing at DuPont from Vancouver, Matt Hartley tied for 32nd at 4-over; Brett Johnson tied for 44th at 5-over; and Casey Thompson tied for 88th at 11-over.

Tumble Creek Club in Cle Elum is one of 10 sectional sites in the United States. All 36-hole sectionals are scheduled for June 8. It is still to be determined how many from each sectional will advance to the U.S. Open.

The U.S. Open will be played at Chambers Bay beginning June 18. It is the first time the U.S. Open has been in the Northwest.