Philadelphia Area Put In National Spotlight During US Open
By Mike DeNardo
ARDMORE, Pa. (CBS) - It's day three of competition at the U.S. Open in Merion. The prestigious golf tournament is putting the Philadelphia area and its fans in the national spotlight.
Five-thousand volunteers are on duty here at Merion, greeting fans, working hospitality and staffing the merchandise pavilion.
Rich Davoli of Lower Gwynedd is a marshal at the 15th green, working the ropes separating the players from the crowd.
He says local sports fans are putting their best foot forward, for the U.S. Open.
"It's a great bunch of people. The Philadelphia area gets a bad rap, but these guys are the greatest. They'll talk to you, they're friendly. They're very nice to all of the players going through. They're the greatest," says Davoli.
He says he's been a golf junkie since he was 12 and even though volunteers have to pay $165 to cover their shirts, rain jackets and hats, Davoli says the once-in-a-lifetime experience of being among the best in the game is priceless.
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