Oakmont pro Devin Gee finishes strong to win 1st Tri-State Open

WEIRTON, W.Va. — Bob Ford’s name appears on the trophy given to the winner of the Tri-State Open nine times.

Eight times for winning the annual event, the other for having the trophy named after him.

Ford, the former head golf professional at Oakmont Country Club, was at Williams Golf and Country Club on Tuesday to present current Oakmont pro Devin Gee the trophy for winning his first Tri-State Open.

Gee shot a 5-under-par 67 and finished the two-day event with an 8-under 136, one shot better than Allegheny Country Club pro John Aber, who shot a 4-under par 68 and ended up with a 7-under 137.

The golfers were tied through 15 holes during the final round, but Gee sank a 10-foot birdie putt on No. 16 to grab the lead. Aber just missed birdie putts on the 17th and 18th.

“This one means a lot,” Gee said. “The trophy is named after my mentor, Bob Ford, who’s won it eight times, so for me to win it with his name on the trophy means a lot.”

Gee had six birdies and a bogey during the round. He also did some scoreboard watching to see how first-round leader Rocco Salvitti was doing.

Salvitti, a 15-year-old Central Catholic sophomore-to-be, didn’t seem fazed by the pressure of leading the event, especially early when he birdied three of the first four holes to go to 8-under.

But bad shots on No. 6 and No. 7 cost him as he dropped four shots during a three-hole stretch.

“I was wondering what he was doing,” Gee said. “I have a vested interest. … He’s one of my students at Oakmont. He’ll be beating all of us in a couple years.”

Salvitti said he learned he can compete at this level and he’s looking forward to more friendly battles. He will be in an AJGA event in Arizona next week.

“I came out hot, but I couldn’t back it up,” Salvitti said. “I knew I had a big lead after the first five holes, and then I hit a few bad shots on a tough stretch of holes.”

Aber said he felt he played solid but Gee played a little better.

“Devin played very well,” Aber said. “I couldn’t control how Rocco was playing. I just had to play the golf course the best I can and stick to my plan. It was fun, and Devin and I had a blast.”

Jimmy Ellis shot a 5-under 67 during the final round and finished as low amateur at 6-under.

Amateurs Louis Olsakovsky, Michael Marsico, Erik Bertrand, Rick Stimmel and Salvitti tied for fourth at 4-under.

“I didn’t know where Jimmy (Ellis) was, but I knew Erik (Bertrand) was close,” Gee said. “I felt 8-under was going to be the number.”

There were a record 60 amateurs in the tournament.

Rounding out the top 10 were amateurs Ryan Bilby and Jake Sollon, both at 3-under.

Aber was also the Senior Division winner.

Gee’s win also capped a big weekend for his family. His wife, Katie Miller, and her first cousin, Mark Goetz, won the Westmoreland County Golf Association’s Better-Ball event on Saturday.