The Cape Henlopen High School golf team appears to be determined to eliminate what few dark hairs may remain on the head of coach Claudio Smarrelli.

Its win/loss record puts the team at risk of missing the state golf championships, something that just hasn’t happened before. As I understand it, one more conference loss could put them out of contention.
The effort was there in the past three matches, even if the results were not quite what was hoped.

On May 5, the Vikings traveled to Cripple Creek Country Club for their rescheduled match against Indian River, and won 170-189.

Casey Anderson and Dino Nardo were co-medalists with a pair of 42s on the front nine. Anderson said, “It was a par/bogey kind of day - more bogeys than pars, unfortunately.”

Tristan Karsnitz fired a 45, while Dan Scrutchfield scored a 47 to complete the team scoring. “I hate that course,” Scrutchfield said simply. “I just don’t play it well.”

On May 6, the Vikings lost a close match to the Sussex Tech Ravens, 158-164. Andrew Sellers and Herb Quick shared co-medalist honors for Tech, with 38s on the front nine at Kings Creek Country Club. Clayton Buntings’ 40 and Richard Atkins’ 42 finished up the Raven scoring.

Anderson and Karsnitz were best for the Vikings with a pair of 39s, while Scrutchfield and Nardo tied for third and fourth best for their team with 43s. Scrutchfield described his play as “pretty much bogey stuff” that day.

Anderson said, “I started out bogey-bogey, then a couple pars and a birdie, and finished with a double. I made a 45-foot birdie putt on No. 4. I hit into a right-side trap, got the ball out of the trap way short and then made the putt,” he grinned. His playing partner, Zack Murr, made a 30-foot bogey putt on the same hole.

On May 7, the Vikings hosted Sussex Central, and won 170-189. Scrutchfield took medalist honors with a fine 38, his best of the season. “I birdied the seventh hole, and had four bogeys,” he said.

Anderson shot a 41, which he described as “respectable.” He also said he almost had two birdies, the kind requiring one more revolution of the ball toward the hole.

Nicholas Purnell was pleased with his third-best Viking score of 45. “I had a birdie on [the par-3] No. 5. I doubled Nos. 1, 6 and 9, and parred the seventh hole.”

Murr finished the team scoring with his 46. “Putting, that’s what it was. I could have had 4 to 5 strokes taken off from putting. I started out well, and was only one over par after my first four holes. Then I put my drive into the water on [hole number] 6, and it was pretty much downhill from there,” he said.

The Vikings were scheduled to play Polytech on May 8, weather permitting. Their final team match is against Woodbridge Tuesday, May 13, at the new Heritage Shores golf course in Bridgeville.

PRO-AM RESULTS - Rehoboth Beach Country Club hosted the Delaware State Golf Association’s Pro-Am tournament on May 5. The scores were pretty impressive. Chris Wisler’s 67 won him first place among the professionals, as well as $495. Neil Maurer and Art Whaley tied for second with John Wallett with 70s.

The remaining top twelve places: Jeff Osberg and Chris Krueger (T-5th-71); Steve Menz and Dennis Winters (T-7th-72); Ricky McCall and Brian Barrows (T-9th-73); Craig Coffield (11th-74); and Craig Susalka and John Ruddo (T-12th-75).

The team net results: Brian Bryson, Steve Saville, Steve Mackie, Joseph Parker (1st-57); Brooks Massey, Shane Smart, Merrill Lynch, Dave Clem (2d-58); John Wallett, Joe Moore, Wayne Mitchel, Curt Riley (3d-59); Kevin Wiest, Steve Storrie, Chase Brockfeldt, Jim Prucnal (4th-59); Ron Barrows, Jack Storms, Chuck Davidson, Penn Emerson (5th-59); Cory Sheldon, Fred Rynkowski, Gerry Fleming, Michael Davis (6th-60); Ty Mayers, John Purple, Sr., John Eisenbrey, Jim Powell (7th-61); Brian Barrows, Hank Sanderson, Brian Murphy, Ryan Barnhart (8th-61); Chris Wisler, Steve Sisson, Tom Banez, Chester Davis (9th-61); and Dennis Winters, Shawn Thomas, Mitch Wyatt, Kevin Smith (10th-61).

David Smith, Zane Moore, Jack DeHaven, and Tom Anderson won first place in the Superintendent Division with their net 61.

BEACH HOUSE TOURNAMENT - The Children’s Beach House annual golf tournament committee is excited about the upcoming Golf Classic that is quickly approaching. The event is scheduled for Wednesday, May 14 with a rain date scheduled for Thursday, May 15. The event will be held for the second year in a row at Delaware’s first private Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course at the exclusive Peninsula Resort on Indian River Bay. This 18-hole course meanders through the terrain of the bay, creeks, marshlands and seven of its holes hug the waterfront. There is still time to register to play; anyone interested is welcome to participate in the event. This is an opportunity for 128 golfers to play the private course while also supporting a great cause. The motto for the event remains “One Day. One Course. One Cause.”

The event costs $250 to play and includes a continental breakfast at 9:30 a.m., time on the driving range starting at 10 a.m., shotgun start and boxed lunches at noon followed by reception and dinner after the tournament starting at 5 p.m.

To register for the Golf Classic benefiting the Children’s Beach House visit cbhinc.org, or call 302-655-4288.