Bridgeport's Sean Sterkel signs with MCC golf team

John J. Mesh/McCook Daily Gazette Bridgeport High School senior Sean Sterkel, center, signed a letter of intent to play golf at McCook Community College. Sterkel is flanked by MCC golf coach Lee Maiden and mother Melanie Jordan.

Sean Sterkel decided to make the four-hour trip from Bridgeport to McCook Monday worth it.

Sterkel signed a letter of intent to play golf at McCook Community College for the 2005-06 season.

Sterkel joins a recruiting class at MCC that includes McCook High School senior Brett Chmiel, who signed two weeks ago.

Sterkel currently averages 82 for the Bridgeport High School golf team.

Bridgeport, a Nebraska Class C school, is averaging 330-340 each tournament. The team plays at the Courthouse Jail Rock course in Bridgeport.

Sterkel said he is looking forward to playing at Heritage Hills in McCook -- the home course for the MCC team. He said he has never played the course before.

"My uncle has golfed here," Sterkel said. "He said after golfing 18 holes here, you will feel it."

MCC golf coach Lee Maiden, the professional at Heritage Hills, recruited Sterkel on the phone.

"He will make himself into a player," Maiden said. "I am looking for kids who want to improve."

Sterkel, who has played at the Nebraska Class C state tournament before, hopes to make it back to state this season.

Bridgeport has three more tournaments left this season.

District tournaments are slated for May 16-17 and state golf tournaments are May 24-25.

Sterkel, the son of Melanie Jordan, Oshkosh, and Greg Sterkel, Bridgeport, plans to major in business and accounting at McCook Community College.