TUESDAY BRIEFS: Libby's Mee finishes strong but misses out on U.S. Open

VANCOUVER, Wash. — Libby golfer Jim Mee recovered from a poor first round but fell short of qualifying for next week’s U.S. Open, finishing in a tie for 21st at the sectional qualifier at Royal Oaks Country Club.

Mee bounced back to shoot 4-under-par 68 on the second day of competition to finish at 1-over for the tournament. Tournament winner Aaron Wise, a 21-year-old amateur who won the NCAA individual and team championships last week for the University of Oregon, finished at 9-under. Other qualifiers were Travis Howe at 7-under and Matt Marshall at 6-under. Marshall won on a third playoff hole to advance.

Missoula’s Tom Swanson, a junior at the University of Michigan, finished 7-over-par at sectional qualifying at Springfield Country Club in Springfield, Ohio. The top four qualifiers moved on from the tournament, all shooting better than 1-under.

The U.S. Open will be held June 16-19 at Oakmont Country Club in suburban Pittsburgh.

Galbraith aces at Whitefish Lake

WHITEFISH — Bob Galbraith used a 6-iron on the sixth hole of the North course at Whitefish Lake Golf Club to sink a hole-in-one on Saturday. Witnesses weren’t reported.

Taylor third at BJJ World Championship

LONG BEACH, Calif. — Leah Taylor earned bronze in the women’s black belt medium-heavy division at the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Championships this weekend.

Taylor, an athlete from Kalispell’s Straight Blast Gym of Montana, had three matches totaling 30 minutes. SBG athlete Hamilton Ash, also competing at the event, finished 1-1 in two matches.