<p class="p1">Six persons whose names you may recognize will be involved in this week’s U.S. Open at Erin Hills in Hartford, Wis.</p><p class="p1">They won’t be among the player favorites like Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Rory McElroy or Jason Day, but come Thursday they will be right there on the course with them.</p><p class="p1">These six — the first five are locals — include Tom Hester, Bill Schwarzauer, Jon Manns, Harry Hank, Dave Brumby and Jerry Schwarzauer of Alabama. </p><p class="p1">They will be in a group of what the USGA reports will be 5,000 volunteers helping with the weeklong event. And they will be doing the work for their love of the game.</p><p class="p1">Bill Schwarzauer, who began volunteering as a worker for golf tournaments in the early 1990s when mini-tour events like Tight Lies, Adams, etc., came into the Lake Area, said he began because “It just sounded like fun and I love the sport. And, it was a way to be part of a major event.”</p><p class="p1">He, Hester and Manns started the group in 2009 when the three worked their first U.S. Open. They’ve missed one Open (2014) since, with Brumby, Hanks and Jerry Schwarzauer joining in at various stages.</p><p class="p1">“The way it actually started (working the Open),” Bill Schwarzauer said, “was that in 2005 we went to Pine Hurst for the Open and saw all the volunteers. We went to the website (USGA), found out how to get the gig and signed up. In 2009 we started going every year.”</p><p class="p1">The crew — which worked the 2016 Ryder Cup — has also begun working the Byron Nelson event on a regular basis.</p><p class="p1">The jobs they hold down at the Open run from marshal to merchandise.</p><p class="p1">This week Schwarzauer will marshal, Jon will work with scoreboards, Hester, Brumby and Jerry Schwarzauer will be in merchandise and Hank will work with corporate hospitality.</p><p class="p1">“We’ll fly up Wednesday and work Thursday through Sunday,” Schwarzauer said.</p><p class="p1">As for the golfers playing the game, Schwarzauer said from what he has seen, “In practice rounds they are relaxed. Once the game starts they are focused. Most appreciative of what the volunteer does.”</p><p class="p1">There are exceptions, however.</p><p class="p1">At the recent Byron Nelson, Schwarzauer was working as a marshal on No. 3, where 40 balls were knocked into the water.</p><p class="p1">“We try to tell them where their ball crossed the hazard. Sometimes they think their eyesight is better. This year (Rory) Sabbatini told me I didn’t have an opinion. But most are appreciative.”</p><p class="p2">l</p><p class="p1">Volunteers at professional golf tournaments get very little. At the U.S. Open this week, the championship provided this information to those who will be working: All volunteers will volunteer for a minimum of four shifts with each shift lasting between five and six hours.  … will be responsible for arriving at their assigned positions on time and without the use of cart transportation. Volunteers will not be paid wages or compensated in any other manner. Volunteers will be required to purchase the Volunteer Apparel Package (consisting of two golf shirts, a wind jacket and a cap) for $175. Volunteers will receive a credential valid for all seven days of the championship and a meal voucher for each assigned shift.</p><p class="p2">l</p><p class="p1">Drew Ainsworth made it two in a row as he won last week’s Southwest Louisiana youth tournament at Frasch Park in Sulphur, shooting an 82. Eric Gardiner was two shots behind with an 84 while Freety Parker posted a 90.</p><p class="p1">Zachary Robertson won the 13-14 boys age division with an 80 followed by 87s from Jared Pousson and Caleb Fontenot.</p><p class="p1">In the girls 13-14 group, Chelsey Shaheen won with an 88.</p><p class="p2">l</p><p class="p1">Randy Fuerst provided one of the area’s top shots recently, producing an eagle on the par-5 12th hole at the Golden Nugget course.</p><p class="p2">l</p><p class="p1">The team of Gage Primeaux, Logan Kuehn and Zac Eisner won last week’s white-gold-red scramble at Mallard Cove with a 54. Low net honors went to the team of Curtis Cole, Rock Smith and Mike Rousseau.</p><p class="p1">Closest-to-the-pin honors were claimed by Pat Comeaux (No. 4), Kuehn (Nos. 7 and 16) and Ellis Hawkins (No. 11).</p><p class="p3"><strong>Upcoming</strong></p><p class="p1"><strong>June 23-25</strong> — Lake Charles men’s city championship, Mallard Cove.</p><p class="p4"><strong>Louis Bonnette</strong> has written about local golf for the <em>American Press</em> since 1971. His column appears each Sunday. Contact him at 274-5689 or lbonnette@mcneese.edu</p>