Cortez' Sena takes third place at golf tourney

Cortez' Sena takes third place at golf tourney

June 9, 2001

STAFF REPORT

DURANGO — A total of 150 men teed the ball up for the 2001 Pat Murphy Motors Low Gross, Low Net Golf Tournament held recently at Hillcrest Golf Course.

The match was held May 27-28 over the Memorial Day Weekend. It was conducted under warm and windy conditions.

This annual stroke play event featured outstanding amateur players from all around the Four Corners competing on a superb venue.

The Championship Flight was won by 15-year-old Jake Hermes of Durango. Hermes was the 2000 Colorado 5A High School Golf Champion. He is one of the rising stars of golf in the country. Hermes shot 70-73-143 to win the tourney.

Third place went to another young rising star in Colorado and the Four Corners golf world. Shea Sena, a sophomore-to-be at Montezuma-Cortez High School, shot scores of 75-75-150. The 15-year-old is the son of Dante and Milinda Sena of Cortez. He played on the varsity team as a freshman last season for the Panther boys golf team.

In taking third, Sena served notice he will be a factor in Colorado golf in the future. He played with Hermes and John Folk, who took second at 72-73-145, for the final round. Sena played well but admitted to letting some opportunities slip away.

"I was a little nervous and that helped me back but Jake and John are great guys and helped me relax as the round went along," Sena, who was quoted in a news release, said. "This was the biggest event I’ve played so far."

Sena joings Keenan Lovett and Casey Stone as the foundation for a potentially strong MCHS boys golf team for the 2001 season.

"It was a good tournament and a great experience for me. I’ll be playing against Jake throughout this summer season and the high school season this fall. He’s (Hermes) is a great player and a good guy. I look forward to playing with him and against him again. He beat me this time by seven strokes and that’s a lot but I’ll play better next time. I’ll have to if I want to compete at that level."

Sena will be competing throughout the Four Corners and Western Slope at golf venues this summer. The annual Cortez Junior Golf Classic is set for June 21 at Conquistador Golf Course.

In other golf news, Leland Sieb of Cortez sank a 210-yard hole-in-one on no. 3 at Conquistador Golf Course on May 30. Sieb used a 5-wood and struck a Dunlap Total Performance Ball. The feat was witnessed by Marvin Lynchard of Salt Lake City.