Rociada's Webb makes Nike golf semifinals

Pendaries golf professional Larry Webb made it to the senior division semifinals of this week’s 2008 Nike Matches in Albuquerque.

The Sun Country PGA event, hosted at Los Altos Golf Course, concluded Wednesday.

Webb, 59, defeated Grants pro Manny Martinez 3 and 1 in the first round of match play in the senior bracket. But in the semifinals, he ran into eventual division champ Mark Palletier, who won 4 and 3. Pelletier went on to win 4 and 3 against Dennis McCloskey in the finals.

El Paso County Club dominated the competition, sweeping to titles in the overall and senior division championships. For a second straight Sun Country PGA event, the duo of Trent Rommann and snared top honors. Romman and Pelletier also prevailed at the Sun Country PGA Pro-President Team Championship in April at their home course.

In the championship division, Rommann outlasted a field of 16. Twin Warriors Golf Club’s Zach Hoefel finished as runner-up after losing to Rommann in the championship match two up.

El Paso CC Director of Golf Pelletier claimed the senior championship by beating Los Alamos GC Director of Golf Dennis McCloskey 4 and 3 in the senior finals.

El Paso’s Mike Smith of Ascarate Golf Course took home top honors in the consolation bracket. Tad Bourg of Taos CC was tops in the senior consolation bracket.

Forty-five golfers in all competed in the Nike Matches.

Aside from Webb, others in the senior division included:

Stan Ferguson, Albuquerque, semifinalist

Manny Martinez, Grants, quarterfinalist

Dennis McCloskey, Los Alamos, runner-up

Mike Olson, El Paso, Texas, quarterfinalist

Mark Pelletier, El Paso, champion

Jim Traina, Kirtland, quarterfinalist

Tom Velarde, Espaola, quarterfinalist

Bobby Baca, Albuquerque, consolation runner-up

Tad Bourg, Taos, consolation champion

Dave Brown, Santa Ana Pueblo, consolation semifinalist

Charlie Maciel, Clovis, consolation semifinalist

Russ Moore, Socorro, consolation quarterfinalist

Ron Ulibarri, Rio Rancho, consolation quarterfinalist

The Sun Country Section PGA is one of the 41 sections that make up the Professional Golfers Association of America. The section is made up of more than 200 PGA members and apprentices in New Mexico and El Paso.