At the U.S. Amateur Championship this past summer, a very familiar face was there to support senior men's golf captain Dean Merrill. And if onlookers couldn't tell golfer from caddy, they couldn't be blamed.
That's because Dean's younger brother Ross, a freshman and Penn golf teammate, was the one lugging his bags.
"I've caddied for him a handful of times," Ross said.
But the younger Merrill prefers to be carrying his own bags alongside his older brother.
"We have done many of the same things together golf-wise," Dean wrote in an e-mail. "Growing up, we've spent a lot of time together."
Besides playing together at the same country club, the two played on the same high school team at Pembroke Hill in their hometown of Kansas City, Mo. They also teamed up on varsity soccer.
But, eventually, golf won out, due in part to their father's interest in the game.
"My dad is an avid golfer," Dean said. "We have played since they would allow us on the golf course, early as five years old."
Such an early start and love for the game certainly helped the two brothers develop into strong - and very similar - players.
Penn coach Francis Vaughn said that both brothers are "extremely talented."
The only difference he could pinpoint was Dean's three years of experience at the college level.
"The other seniors look up to him," Vaughn said. "He leads by example."
And while Dean is one of the Quakers' leaders this season, he isn't afraid to turn to his baby brother for advice.
"Since we've both grown up playing together, we know each other's games very well," Dean said. "When I have swing problems, he is very helpful."
While Ross said his brother's "greater knowledge" of the sport is helpful in improving his own game, he claims they don't talk about golf much outside of competitions and practice.
In fact, the brotherly love is often left off the course completely.
"You know they're very competitive . like most brothers," said Vaughn. "There is definitely some competition in practice."
The potential for sibling rivalry did not deter Ross from following his brother when making his college decision. Because the Merrills' older sister, Brittany, graduated from Penn in 2006, it was on his radar even before Dean flourished as a college athlete.
But the brothers have yet to compete together this spring. Ross won't be included in the lineup this weekend's George Washington Invitational.
However, Vaughn knows the newcomer's time will come.
Ross has the "potential to be [a] cornerstone [of the team] in the future," he said.
So while Ross may not have the chance to prove himself, Dean will certainly be on the green on Friday.
But for this match, there will be no younger brother to carry his bag.
