U.S. Open 2025: Oakmont head professional serves as marker, plays alongside competitor
U.S. Open 2025: Oakmont head professional serves as marker, plays alongside competitor
Oakmont Country Club head professional Devin Gee got an opportunity of a lifetime in the third round of the 125th U.S. Open, serving as a marker playing alongside Philip Barbaree Jr. at the course where he works daily.
'It was hard,' Gee told reporters following the third round Saturday. 'It is amazing how different the golf course plays when it is firm versus soft but it was fun. To have our membership out there and the support that you feel from them is awesome.'
Rain postponed second-round play on Friday. When action resumed Saturday morning, Barbaree finished at 7 over through 36 holes to make his first cut at a U.S. Open.
It also left the field with an odd number of players, which allowed Gee to play as a marker for a second time. He also served in this role in 2016 when Oakmont last hosted the tournament.
'I knew coming into the U.S. Open that this would be a possibility,' Gee said. 'When I did it in 2016, I found out the night before which was probably a blessing because I was so nervous that if I knew anytime before that, it would have been torture. This time around, I knew a few months in advance after Scott Langley called me and said he'd be honored if I would play.'
Gee has held the role of Director of Golf at Oakmont Country Club since 2016. He succeeded longtime Oakmont head professional Bob Ford, who retired after serving for over 25 years.
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