BETHESDA, Md. – Caddie Dean Herden’s unforgettable week at the KPMG Women’s PGA was noteworthy before his boss In Gee Chun even hit a shot in competition.
On Wednesday, a man was found shot to death at the Red Roof Inn in Rockville, Maryland, where Herden said he and about 20 other caddies were staying for the week. Herden said other caddies heard the shots, but he slept through it.
WUSA9 reported that Montgomery County Police found 39-year-old Javier Gonzalez-Mena around 11:30 p.m. Police say Gonzalez-Mena answered a knock on the door of his hotel room and was fatally shot. Two men were later arrested and charged with first-degree murder.
Herden said while half the caddies found a new place for the rest of the week, he decided to stay on.
“It’s gotta be the safest place on earth,” he said. “Every time I left the hotel, there were two cop cars there.”
A month ago, when Chun came to Congressional for a practice round, Herden stayed at the Rockville Red Roof Inn about 20 minutes from the golf course. He thought the location and rate of $550 for the week was so great that he told the rest of the caddies about it in the group chat.
Herden, 58, has caddied for 30 years after playing professionally for six years on the Asian Tour and in Canada. He has been on the bag for 54 titles worldwide, including five majors.
This week’s wire-to-wire victory with Chun is their second together. Herden was on Chun’s bag when won she the 2015 U.S. Women’s Open at Lancaster Country Club.
