Stennett Secures Top Spot as Highlanders Clinch Conference

Portland High School junior Luke Stennett won the Shoreline Conference Championship last week, defeating a field of 55 golfers to finish atop the leaderboard in New Britain.   

After finishing as the co-medalist at the Shoreline Conference (SLC) golf championships last year, Portland High School junior Luke Stennett was alone atop the leaderboard this spring, winning a conference title outright on May 23.

Stennett shot a course-best 71, besting Cromwell’s Jack Wise by two strokes at Stanley Golf Course in New Britain. 

A year ago, Stennett tied with Colin Murphy of Cognichaug for a share of the conference crown.  

“I was just trying to have fun and play my game like I did last year and see what happens, and I was lucky enough to be by myself this time,” recalled Stennett, who is good friends with Wise and the other top finishers. “It was obviously nice to win, but I had a great time. It was fun playing with those guys.”

After missing a five-foot putt and shooting a bogey on the second hole, Stennett rebounded by sinking a nearly identical birdie putt on the third hole.

“I accepted it and moved on,” Stennett said of his missed putt on the second hole. “I got my redemption on the next hole.” 

With the wind at his back on the third hole, Stennett used his pitching wedge off the tee, landing the ball within five feet of the hole again. This time he sank the putt, finishing in two shots on a par-three.  

Stennett’s confidence and rhythm increased as the day grew on, shooting a one-under on back-nine thanks to eight pars and a birdie on 16.

Despite leaving a few putts short, Stennett said the conditions and the course fit the way he plays. 

“I was hitting the ball really well, but I wasn’t able to execute on my putts sadly, but I was still happy with it.” Stennett said of his round.

Along with Stennett bringing home some individual hardware, Portland also won the conference as a team, placing 20 strokes ahead of runner-up Cromwell (312-332) to win the conference for a third straight season. 

All five Highlanders that competed finished in the top-16 out of the 55 golfers that participated. 

Quinn Lapinski and Ben Fecteau (79) finished tied for 6th, Joe LaMalfa (83) placed 14th, and Gio Discenza (84) finished 16th.
Stennett said it’s the “competitive factor” in practices that allows the group to thrive during competition. He also credited head coach Joe Santavenere with challenging the team by mixing it up in practice with a variety of drills.   
 
“We always compete in practice and we balance it by having fun. We just love playing the game,” stated Stennett. “We are lucky. We are able to have fun in practice and it carries over to the competition.” 

Now an upperclassman, Stennett noted that he has found himself mentoring the next generation of Highlanders. In a meeting to start the season, Stennett said he encouraged the younger golfers to use the team’s junior and seniors as a resource.

The same day Stennett and the varsity team won a third straight conference, the program’s junior varsity team defeated Coventry (153-155) in a dual meet at Portland Golf Course. 

Four Highlanders shot under 41, with Julian Wilmer (36) leading the way. Jonah Lavallee (37), William Jahnke (40), and Frederick Bailey (40) each placed in the top-six overall. 

“[They] are the future to Portland and I want the dynasty to keep going,” added Stennett. “We have a solid JV team that is going to be really good in a few years and we are really proud of that.”

Regardless of the level of competition, the Highlanders have created a culture of success in Portland.

The conference win was the program’s seventh to go along with six state championships, five since 2016. 
 
“We just like proving that it doesn’t matter the size of the school, it’s just about the team and I think our team does a really good job.” stated Stennett. “We are able to compete with top-tier teams and if we play well, we can beat most of them.”

Next up is a return trip to Stanley Golf Course for the Division III state championships on Tuesday, June 6.   

The Highlanders are seeking a third straight state title, winning the competition in both 2021 and 2022. 

Stennett is aiming for an individual three-peat as well. He won the state championship as a freshman, shooting an even-par to finish atop the leaderboard at the 2021, and last year he was the co-medalist — again tying Murphy for a share of the state title. 
Whether he was taking the state by surprise as a freshman or playing as the favorite going into the state meet, Stennett said his approach is the same.

​“I am obviously trying to help the team and do the best I can for the team,” added Stennett. “My goal as a captain is to show everybody that it doesn’t matter how you are playing, as long as you are having fun is what matters.”