Sena qualifies for 4A State Golf Championships

Sena qualifies for 4A State Golf Championships

Sept. 22, 2001

By Jim Thomas
Journal Sports Editor

Shea Sena, only a sophomore at Montezuma-Cortez High School, is making his first appearance at the Class 4A State Golf Championships which will be played Oct. 1-2 in Elizabeth.

Playing in a foursome with David Gilman of Cedaredge-Hotchkiss, Luke Antonelli of Rifle, and Aspen's Patrick McLennan, Sena stayed neck and neck through most of the round. However, Sena didn’t play his best game of golf that day and finished with an 18-hole total of 78. Antonelli finished with a 72, McLennan 73 while Gilman faded.

Antonelli is a seasoned veteran who has competed in several Regoinal and State tournaments.had been there before. Antonelli, the runner-up at last year's Class 4A state golf championships, put himself in a good position to earn a state title by winning Tuesday's Class 4A Western Regional, shooting a 1-over-par 72 at Tiara Rado Golf Course to edge two players for medalist honor at the state qualifying meet. Antonelli's score helped the Bears win the team title with a 231. The region qualified two teams; Aspen earned the second state berth with a 232.

Mike Dallas, the No. 2 player for Cedaredge-Hotchkiss., tied with McLennan. Antonelli’s teammate Jarrod Brown shot 76, Aspen’s Scott Tabbott 76, Shane Polly 78, Travis Lewis 78, Chris Lumberg 78, and Sena. MCHS teammate, Keenan Lovett, just missed qualifying as he finished with an 81.

However, it took a playoff as three of the four players had to compete in a playoff. Polley and Lewis each hit their approach on the fringe of the green on the first playoff hole, then got close on long putts for tap-ins for pars, earning two of the qualifying spots. Lundberg, like Lewis, a freshman, got into trouble on the second playoff hole, his approach landed in a hazard. Sena, a sophomore who lost in a playoff last year, just missed out on a state berth, sank his knee-knocker putt to earn the final spot.

"He certainly did not play his best round of golf," MCHS first-year head coach Randy (Jack) Jacobson said. "He didn’t have as good of day as he did late last week at Gunnison. I think he was more worried about the others in his group rather than concentrating on his own game."

Between now and the tournament, Sena will get in a lot of practice at Conquistador Golf Course. They will leave on Sept. 29 and play the course together for practice round on Sept. 30.

"We will try to work on the mind game. A lot of golf is in our thinking. We will play a few rounds, but mainly work on his short game," Jacobson remarked.

The Montrose High varsity golf team turned out to be a more gracious host. It had a less-than average performance Friday, Sept. 14, at their own 15-team tournament and it resulted in a fifth place finish on their home course, the Montrose Golf Club.

The varsity tied with the junior varsity team for fifth place as both teams finished with a 235. Durango won the meet with a 215. Cortez followed at 10 strokes behind with a 225, Cedaredge finished in third with a 229 and Delta took up fourth with a 232.

Rifle won the regular season-ending boys golf tournament at Dos Rios Golf Course in Gunnison. The Bears finished with a 234, three strokes ahead of Montrose and Moffat County despite having no finishers in the top six.

Sena won the individual medalist honor with a 72, finishing two strokes ahead of three players — Eric Winder of Grand Junction, Tim Brown of Montrose and Gilman.

Jacobson was already talking about next year.

"Next year we should be greatly improved. We will have Keenan who will be returning as a senior, Alex Stroud coming back as a senior. Sena, Michael Stroud, Casey Richey, Jamie Eads returning as juniors, and several others who show a lot of promise," he said.

Jacobson said he wanted to thank the golf staff at Conquistador Golf Course for their support and help for the past season. He wanted to thank Jack Click for aided him with the team and went on the trips. And he said he wanted to thank the parents and all the people who made contributions to the golf team, financial and otherwise.