A FILIPINO who moved to the United States in the early eighties was among several hundred volunteers in the 121st US Open championship that ended Sunday at Torrey Pines in San Diego, California.

Rico Edillor, who works as a senior Information Technology analyst, said he received the call-up early this year after putting his volunteer application online two years ago.

(Rico is a native of Masinloc, Zambales. — Editor)

“For a while, I never got a response from USGA. After the pandemic hit and golf competition was stopped, I thought that the tournament will be canceled or will be played, but close to the public,” said Edillor, now in his late fifties.

“It was only early this year that USGA thought there is a possibility for limited spectators to be allowed during the tournament. I was then told that I made the volunteer list.”

He has no idea how many volunteers were, although before the pandemic, the USGA was looking for 4,000.

“I don’t know how many they selected for this scaled back tournament. USGA limited the attendance to 10,000 per day,” Edillor said.

As a volunteer, Edillor got a week-long personalized and non-transferable credentials that allows admission into the championship for all seven days, including days he’s not assigned to volunteer.

However, he had to pay $195 for the US Open volunteer apparel package that consists of two logoed golf shirts and a jacket provided by Polo Ralph Lauren, official outfitter of the US Open.

It was Edillor’s first time to volunteer for the US Open, although he had volunteered once in the Farmers Insurance tournament before.

Edillor, who is a member at Torrey Pines, was assigned on the first hole.

“There are many different positions in one hole. I did green marshall, ball spotter, crowd and hole traffic control,” he said.

Edillor had one four-hour shift in the first round, two shifts in the second and one shift in Round 3.

He chose to watch the final round at home.

“The experience is rewarding. You get to see a lot of great players competing for the championship up close. Got to meet a lot of different people from all over, all willing to serve for a game they are passionate about,” he said.

One player that strikes Edillor most was Bryson Decheambeau “because of the awkwardness of his swing but he still gets the job done.”

Edillor, who lives just 20 minutes away by car, is married to a Filipina with whom they have a son and daughter.

His son, Jared, plays for the California State San Bernardino golf team.

Fondly called Rico Jay by friends, Edillor plays once a week at Torrey Pines, also one of the venues of the IMG Junior World next month.

He said he also plans to watch the juniors play. — The Daily Tribune / June 22, 2021