Playing in a U.S. Open is something every serious golfer dreams of.

Neal Shipley and Jake Sollon will get to live that dream and will represent Western Pennsylvania at the 126th annual U.S. Open beginning with official practice rounds Monday at Shinnecock Hills Country Club in Southampton, N.Y.

The duo grew up competing against each other and according to Sollon, they will probably play a practice round as they prepare for the Open.

Sollon, 28, is a 2016 Peters Township graduate and Shipley, 25, graduated from Central Catholic in 2019.

This will be Shipley’s second U.S. Open. In 2024, he was the low amateur and tied for 26th at Pinehurst No. 2. He also earned low-amateur honors at The Masters that year, finishing tied for 53rd and playing the final round with Tiger Woods.

He was the sixth player to be low amateur in both events in the same year, joining Ken Venturi, Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson, Matt Kuchar and Viktor Hovland.

Shipley is a PGA Tour rookie and fully exempt PGA Tour member for the 2026 season.

He earned his tour card by finishing in the Top 20 on the 2025 Korn Ferry Tour points list, which included two tournament victories.

Shipley is currently competing in the RBC Canadian Open where he hopes to make the cut for the fourth time in 14 events.

He tied for 40th at the Byron Nelson (12-under, May 21), tied for 38th at the Myrtle Beach Classic (6-under, May 7) and tied for 68th at the Phoenix Open (1-over, Feb. 5).

“I have made the cut in two of my past three events,” said Shipley, who was co-medalist at the U.S. Open final qualifier at Springfield, Ohio. He shot an 8-under 132.

“My game is in a better place,” Shipley said. “It was not at the beginning of the season. It has been a learning experience.

“I am learning the courses for the first time. A lot of guys know these courses and where to hit it. I am trying to find the right balance.”

Shipley knew he was in a strong position after the first 18 holes of qualifying. He just needed to stay consistent.

Sollon needed an extra hole to qualify at Woodmont in Bethesda, Md.

“I felt I needed to get to 5-under,” Sollon said. “I did not, but I hit a great shot on the extra hole.

“It was getting dark, and I knew I hit a good shot. The crowd around the green let me know it was good. I hit 9-iron from 165 yards to 7 inches. My mother could have made that putt.”

Sollon attended Rider College in N.J. and then transferred to Oregon for his final season.

“This is a dream come true,” Sollon said. “I went to last year’s Open at Oakmont, and it inspired me. I told myself I could play in the Open and why not me?

“I am looking forward to getting up there and learning the course. I plan on playing five rounds beginning on Saturday, and I should be able to figure things out and go out and have fun.”