Altoona’s Artie Fink Jr. will be in the field when the 2026 U.S. Senior Open tees off this Thursday at Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio.

Fink earned his opportunity to play in this prestigious national championship after a strong performance in the USGA qualifying event at Manor Golf Club in Rockville, Md., on June 15.

While disappointed he didn’t earn one of the six automatic spots into the U.S. Senior Open, a tie for seventh place led to a playoff where Fink eventually earned the ‘first alternate’ position.

USGA officials informed Fink there was a high likelihood he would gain entry since there are typically a number of withdrawals in the weeks leading up to the tournament. Still, Fink didn’t want to get his hopes up too early.

All that changed on Saturday evening when Fink’s cellphone began to ring.

“I never answer my phone when I don’t recognize the number,” Fink said. “But when I saw it was from New Jersey, I had a feeling it might be about the tournament.”

Sure enough, Fink was right. An official from the USGA was on the other end of the phone to officially welcome him to the 2026 U.S. Senior Open.

“I was shaking when I finished the call,” Fink said. “I didn’t realize I’d be this emotional. It’s a dream come true.”

Fink, a 2024 inductee into the Blair County Sports Hall of Fame, plans to head to Columbus this afternoon and will play practice rounds on Tuesday and Wednesday. Starting times for Thursday’s opening round will be announced later this week.