Tyler Light, a three-time All-American for the Malone University men's golf team, has earned a spot in this week's U.S. Open Golf Tournament at Erin Hills Golf Course in Erin, Wisconsin.

After advancing through the local qualifying stage, Light earned first-alternate status last Monday (June 5) by registering a fifth-place finish at the U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying Tournament that was held in Springfield, Ohio.

The Massillon, Ohio native (Perry H.S.) then learned on Sunday evening that he was selected for one of the final five spots in the 156-player field.  Light will tee off his opening round at 9:57 a.m. ET (8:57 a.m. CT) on Thursday morning.  The other four alternates who received a U.S. Open opportunity included Gregory Bourdy, Davis Love IV, Meen Whee Kim and Ryan Palmer.

Light competed on the Mackenzie PGA Canada Tour in 2015 and will be making his first PGA Tour appearance.  He is the second Malone men's golf alum to compete in the U.S. Open, joining former teammate Richie Schembechler, who qualified for the prestigious event last summer.

Light was named to the NCAA Division II PING All-America Third Team by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) following an outstanding 2013-14 campaign in which he helped the Pioneers advance all the way to the Semifinals at the NCAA Division II National Championships.  The historic season also included Malone's first Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Title and a first-place showing at the NCAA Division II Midwest/Central Super Regional.

In addition to his All-America honor in 2014, Light was also named to the All-Midwest Region Team and shared GLIAC Player of the Year honors with teammate Nathan Tarter.  His lengthy list of individual accomplishments during his senior year included tying for fourth overall at the Super Regional and tying for 30th during the stroke-play portion of the National Championships.  

The 2014 Malone graduate was also tabbed as an NAIA All-American in both 2010 and 2011.  Light collected Third Team All-America accolades as a freshman in 2010 after placing 38th overall at the NAIA National Championships and helping Malone to a third-place team finish.  He was then named a Second Team All-American as a sophomore in 2011, tying for 24th at Nationals and helping the Pioneers to a fourth-place team showing.

Light will be the third Malone men's golf alum to take part in a PGA Tour event this summer.  Justin Lower placed 59th at the Wells Fargo Championship in Early May and Schembechler competed at the St. Jude Classic this past week.  Notably, Light, Lower and Schembechler were all teammates at Malone during the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons, helping the Pioneers record Top 5 national finishes in each of those years.

To follow Light's progress at the U.S. Open this week, visit the PGA Tour website (www.pgatour.com).

Television coverage will be available through FS1 and Fox Sports.  A full broadcast schedule is available here: http://www.pgatour.com/content/pgatour/tv-times.html