Saturday, April 21, 2007

Hessinger leads Eagle golfers at Eldorado Invite

Jason W. Brooks News-Bulletin Staff Writer; jbrooks@news-bulletin.com

Albuquerque Thursday, there were ideal conditions at Los Altos Golf Course. One Belen High School golfer took advantage and had a superb round, but it wasn't the same player who had excelled the week before.

Daniel Hessinger shot a 79, two strokes too many to earn a Class 4A state qualifying leg, but still an excellent round on one of New Mexico's biggest regular-season stages. Competing against some of the best high school golfers in the state at the Eldorado Invite, Hessinger helped his team to a collective score of 353. The team total ranked the Class 4A Eagles in front of such 5A giants as Santa Fe High, Rio Grande and West Mesa.

Hessinger was among the top individuals at the invite, while teammate Anton Trujillo, who shot an amazing 74 and earned a state qualifying leg April 9 in Los Alamos, fell to earth. Trujillo shot a 92, and coach Larry Garley sounded disappointed.

"He got a big head," said Garley. "He had to really go in there and work, but he didn't."

Trujillo actually was in danger of not having his score counted as the lowest four used in calculating the team score. Freshman Bryan Torres shot a 90, while eighth-grader Daniel Goldberg tied with Trujillo at 92. Ethan Hanks shot a 93.

The BHS boys were seventh overall, as Rio Rancho shot a fantastic 295 to take the team crown. Two Rio Rancho golfers needed a playoff to decide the individual medalist, as both shot a 70 in regulation.

Belen native Alex Estrada, a Hope Christian senior, tied for third with a 72.

The Belen girls made the trip as well, shooting a 555 and placing fifth out of five teams, with Rio Rancho winning the girls' side as well. Aubrey Wheeler led Belen with a 118, Marysa Cordova 140, Adriana Gurule 142, and Alyssa Redman 155. Garley said Vanessa Sisneros did well in her second tournament, using Thursday as an exhibition event.

Monday, the Eagle teams will be at the Rio Rancho Invite at Chamisa Hills Country Club, and Tuesday, Belen will play in the Cibola Invite. The District 5-4A tournament is Monday, April 30, at Cochiti Golf Course.

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