Liebezeit, Hummer make a solid team at The Deeg Sezna

   Aronimink Golf Club’s Paul Liebezeit and Case Hummer teamed up to finish first in the Junior-Junior Boys division in The Deeg Sezna, the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s unique event that focuses on mentoring, July 7 at The ACE Club.

   The event is named in honor of Davis “Deeg” Sezna Jr., an avid golfer who was in his sixth day at his new job when he lost his life on the 104^th floor of the World Trade Center Sept. 11, 2001. He had graduated from Vanderbilt with a degree in economics. The event celebrates mentorship, in much the same away that Deeg mentored his younger brothers Teddy and Willy.

   It was in that spirit that the team of Hummer, an eighth-grader at Episcopal Academy, and Liebezeit was formed.

   “We’ve had intentions of playing together, but our schedules just haven’t agreed,” the 41-year-old LIebezeit told the GAP website. “This is a great opportunity that I wanted to jump at because it was a chance to play with one of our junior players from Aronimink. Case fits at the top end (of our junior program). He’s done wonderful things over the last few years. I only expect him to get better and better. I’m looking forward to playing with him more often.”

   Hummer and Liebezeit teamed up for a 1-under 71 in the select drive/alternate shot format over the 6,490-yard, par-72 ACE Club layout.

   They got a two-putt birdie after Liebezeit drove the 254-yard, par-4 eighth green, Hummer knocked his approach at the par-4 10^th hole to eight feet and Liebezeit converted the birdie putt and Hummer dropped in a 20-foot, left-to-right breaker for birdie on the par-5 16^th.

   “It was really fun,” said Hummer, a Glen Mills resident who had teamed with Joseph Morganti to win the Junior-Junior division at the Francis X. Hussey Memorial at Rolling Green Golf Club a day earlier. “It was good to play with someone older and more experienced. He gave me some tips on my swing. I learned a few mental things, too.”

   Hummer and Liebezeit finished two shots clear of the Chester Valley Golf Club pair of Ryan Carroll and Henry Fish. Nicholas Hano Jr. of Applebrook Golf Club teamed with Nicholas Hano III of Aronimink to finish fourth in the division with an 83.

   The Running Deer Golf Club pair of 36-year-old Chris Meares and 15-year-old Jacob Hanzel won the Junior Boys division with a 4-under 68. The Washington Township (N.J.) residents finished one shot clear of the Sandy Run Golf Club pair of Tom Conboy Jr. and P.J. Aciemo, who posted a 3-under 69.

   Among some of the other top finishers in the Junior Boys division included: The Llanerch Country Club pair of J.J. Berenato and Jack St. Armour (75); The duo of Llanerch’s Tom Spano and Brendan Hallinan of Applebrook (76); The team of Overbrook Golf Club’s Mac Ryan, a former St. Joseph’s Prep standout, and Paul Comely (79); the Overbrook tandem of Doug Fero and Gavin Sims (80); the team of Rolling Green’s Ryan Brennan and Geoff Sheehan of French Creek Golf Club (81); the Llanerch duo of Jeff St. Armour and Jack McClatchy (82); the Rolling Green pair of Matthew Brennan Sr. and Matthew Brennan (83); the team of McCall Golf & Country Club’s Ari Flaisher and Llanerch’s Frankie McVeigh (85); and the Rolling Green tandem of Robert Aronchick and Jake Aronchick (87).

   Rolling Green’s Peter Mark and Kathleen Mark were the only entrants in the Mixed division and posted a solid 81.
   Look for a recap of two of GAP's major Junior events, the Christman Cup, won by Haverford School All-Delco Max Siegfried, and the Jock McKenzie Memorial in which Siegfried lost in a playoff, as well as reigning Daily Times Player of the Year, Radnor's Brynn Walker, earning a trip to the Junior PGA Championship in Texas in August with a strong showing in a qualifier at Applecross Country Club, in a golf notebook in Saturday's print edition of the Daily Times.