The Cape golf team lost two matches this year and two matches last year by single-stroke margins.
With the DIAA scoring system using the four best nine-hole scores of six competitors per team, the chances that this can happen are fairly remote – but it does, and painfully so.
In a surprising turn of expectations, therefore, the Vikings managed to win a match by a single stroke, defeating Sussex Central 162-163 May 7 at Mulligan’s Pointe Golf Club near Georgetown.
Cape junior Jacob Gabbard tied Sussex Central freshman Jake Hollerback for co-medalist honors with their pair of 38s. Gabbard’s last hole required a delicate shot with a low-lofted iron off the top of a stump, and then a perfect chip for the par save. His good fortune provided the margin of victory.
Fellow Vikings Dalen Daminger and Travers Johnson tied for third place overall with Sussex Central’s Joseph Neumann with a trio of 41s. Cape’s Eddie Ghabour then tied for sixth with two Golden Knights, Ervin Ascensio-Maravilla and Trevor Clarke, with their 42s.
Cape next hosted Indian River May 8 on the front nine at Rehoboth Beach Country Club, winning by a more comfortable 172-183.
IR senior Sarah Lydic posted another fine one-under 35 for medalist honors, as she prepares to fight other top scholastic golfers to win her second individual state championship at the end of the month.
Gabbard was once again best golfer for Cape with his 40. The two-shot difference from the day before came courtesy of a double-bogey on his last hole of the day, which rightfully maddened him.
Cape senior Luke McCarthy made another valuable contribution with a 43 in his first and final season, followed by Daminger’s 44 and Chad Hughey’s 45. Daminger was also annoyed by his double-bogey finish, softened only a bit by a birdie on the challenging par 4 sixth hole.
Cape raffle sales underway
Cape Henlopen Golf Team Boosters created a new raffle contest to support the Vikings. The 16 prizes include rounds of golf at Cape Region courses, gift cards to area restaurants and goodie baskets from popular stores and restaurants, as well as a hooded table grill.
Cape golf team members and coaches are selling raffle tickets for $20. Each ticket gives the buyer 16 chances to win at the May 20 drawing. Winners need not be present at the drawing. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact assistant coach Tanya Humes at 302-645-7711.
Local high school results
Sussex Academy improved to 12-3 on the season May 8 with a 169-190 win over Dover at Kings Creek Country Club outside Rehoboth Beach. Keenan Williams earned medalist honors with a round of 41. He was followed by McKenna Danahy and Austin Dostal with a pair of 42s. Freshman Ryan Dostal rounded out scoring with a 44.
Delmarva Christian won a pair of matches May 2, defeating Conrad 161-187 and Mt. Sophia Academy 161-305 at Delcastle Golf Club. Avery Brown led the way with a 38, with Lance McQuay one stroke behind in 39. Joel Perry logged a 40, while Gideon Woods scored 44.
The Royals split a tri-meet May 6 at Baywood Greens in Long Neck, defeating Charter School of Wilmington 179-185, but falling to Middletown 163-179. Middletown’s Matthew Kolbjornsen led the way with an impressive 36 on the front nine. Charter’s Davin Lysik also broke 40 with a nine-hole score of 39. Leading Delmarva Christian was Brown with a 41. McQuay followed with a 45, while Ashtin Reese shot 46. Perry, Daniel Genga and Edward Higgins each finished with 47s.
The Royals now have a record of 10-3.
Local club competition results
Thirty-nine members of the Kings Creek Ladies 9-Hole group played a Baker’s Dozen game May 7. Chris Piaseki won first place gross in the first flight, with Pam Cranston taking first gross in the second flight. Juanita Wilson won first gross in the third flight.
In Flight 1 net, Sherry Schaffer won first place, with Kara Bourdreau in second and Vicki St. Germain in third.
For Flight 2 net, Stephanie Roash came in first, followed by Sally Chamberlain in second and Francie Young in third. Ellan Hylton won first net in Flight 3, with Donna Romer in second and Margaret Connors in third.
The Mulligan’s Point Ladies played a Fewest Putts game May 7. M.L. York won Division 1, with Karen Feuchtenberger in second and Kathy Hudak in third.
Donna Dolce won Division 2, followed by Pam Pichola in second and Rita McConnell in third.
The same group played a Criers Tournament April 30. Pat Burk won Division 1, with Terese Kane in second and Brenda Joyce in third. Kay Monack won Division 2, followed by Hudak in second and Jackie Adams in third.
The group also played a Low Gross/Low Net game April 23. Peggy Claussen won first place gross for Division 1, followed by Tammy Findlay in second and Joyce in third. Deb Manelski won Division 2 gross, with Hudak in second and Carol MacFawn in third.
York won Division 1 net, followed by Feuchtenberger in second and JoAnn Foster in third. Janece Hausch won Division 2 net, with Monack in second and Sue Ruiz in third.
The Kings Creek Ladies 18-Hole group played its Opening Day Scramble May 2.
Diane Herndon, Faye Slatcher, Carol Loewen and Pamela Cranston won first place in the net contest, followed by Chris Emery, Gail Letts, Maureen Gutenstein and Deb D'Orazio in second.
Mena Colucci, Anne Farley, Francie Young and Deb Hinderer finished third, with Anita Pettitt, Leslie Ledogar, Sandy Singer and Prabha Karapurkar in fourth.
Lisa Lekawa, Kay Woollen, Arlyce Dubbin and Donna Romer took the fifth spot, followed by Kathleen Nilles, Lori Guitson, Denise Stewart and Kathleen O'Connor in sixth.
Diane Shawver, Pattie Magee, Kara Bourdreau and Tracy Gordon finished seventh, with Ana Dittel, Margie Moore, Sally Chamberlain and Chris Piasecki on eighth.
Winnie Sewell, Cynthia Lowe, Susan Julbe and Ellan Hylton took ninth, with Judy Wetzel, Sandy Neverett, Debbie Grant and Beth Cohen finishing 10th.
PGA Championship
Congratulations to Braden Shattuck and Zac Oakley for yet again qualifying for the PGA Championship, held this year at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., May 13-19.
The two club pros previously won Delaware Opens and several other regional events.
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Fritz Schranck has been writing about the Cape Region's golf community since 1999. Snippets, stories and anecdotes from his columns are included in his new book, "Hole By Hole: Golf Stories from Delaware's Cape Region and Beyond," which is available at the Cape Gazette offices, Browseabout Books in Rehoboth Beach, Biblion Books in Lewes, and local golf courses. His columns and book reviews are available at HoleByHole.com.
Contact Fritz by emailing fschranck@holebyhole.com.
