The Cape golf team defeated Indian River 162-187 March 27 on the front nine of the Bear Trap Dunes Kodiak course in Ocean View. Cape’s score matched the team’s best performances of the 2024 season.
IR freshman Ellie Walls won medalist honors with a fine even-par 36 to lead all players. Her prior golf experience includes the junior circuit, such as U.S. Kids golf and the Peggy Kirk Bell Tour.
Kingston Davis finished first for the Cape contingent with his 38. His fellow Vikings took the next five spots to assure the team’s victory.
After Tyler Healy’s 40, four Vikings tied at 42 – Eddie Ghabour, Gabby Hamstead, Chad Hughey and Ryan McNett. This was also McNett’s first varsity match for Cape, after transferring last fall from Illinois.
Cape went even lower the next day, beating Lake Forest 159-181 on the par 36 front nine at Jonathan’s Landing in Magnolia. Davis once again led his team as medalist with his even-par 36, his third straight occasion as the best Vikings golfer this season.
McNett took two strokes off from the day before with his 40, while Hughey brought his score down to 41. Healy finished the team scoring with his 42.
Hamstead posted a 43 toward her season average. Ghabour slipped a bit with his 47.
Daniel Baynum’s 38 and Landen Jefferson’s 40 were great scores for Lake Forest, but the rest of the Spartans appeared to have a tough day.
The Vikings’ 159 total against Lake Forest is not the school’s best-ever score, but it has been a long while since the team played this well.
I checked my archive of past golf columns since it began in January 1999. It appears that the last time Cape went this low or lower was in a May 2007 match against Polytech, which coincidentally also took place at Jonathan’s Landing. Sam Purple and Dino Nardo were co-medalists on that occasion, with Travis Parker and Sean Toner joining them.
The 2025 Vikings next traveled to Heritage Shores in Bridgeville April 1, to play Sussex Tech. Cape overcame the fact that Davis missed the match due to illness and won 168-190 on the back nine.
McNett’s 40 won his first medalist honors for Cape, with Healy’s 41 a stroke back. Hughey continued his run of form with another 42. Senior Jacob Gabbard contributed his first varsity score for 2025 with his 45.
Vikings head coach Bill Geppert was pleased with how his team reacted to their teammate’s illness.
“They stepped up and showed their flexibility,” he said.
Corey Duke had the best score for Sussex Tech with his 45, with Cameron Hudson a stroke behind with a 46.
The Vikings had another away match scheduled for April 3, a tri-meet at Wild Quail Golf & Country Club in Wyoming, against perennial rivals Caesar Rodney and Milford. That will be reported in next week’s column.
On Monday, April 7, the team is set to ride the Cape May-Lewes Ferry to play Lower Cape May Regional High at Cape May National Golf Club, the South Jersey school’s home course. It is the second round of the Cape to Cape Series, a home-and-away competition first won by the Vikings last April at Rehoboth Beach Country Club.
Sussex Academy
The Sussex Academy golf team began its 2025 season March 31, with a bit of a flourish, defeating Lake Forest 155-187 on the back nine of Kings Creek Country Club, the Seahawks’ home course.
Seniors Austin Dostal and Dominic Piperno, who represented the Seahawks well in last year’s state championship, picked up where they left off with a pair of two-over par 37s, earning co-medalist honors. Eighth-grader Sam Metz, playing in his first varsity match, added a five-over par 40. Senior McKenna Danahy completed the team scoring with his 41.
Seniors Quentin Bowman and Keenan Williams just missed contributing to the day’s triumph with a pair of 42s.
Piperno made a nice birdie on the 14th hole with a pitching wedge approach to tap-in range. His main adventure of the day came on the par five 17th, when his seven-iron second shot bounced over the green and went out of bounds. He took his stroke and distance penalty, and landed the next shot on the front fringe. Two putts later he made his OB bogey.
The Seahawks’ 155 team score was five strokes better than last year’s best total for the squad.
Sussex Academy head coach Doug Grove said, “We had a really nice day out there today. It was good to see them play well.”
Grove also said he thought there was a good chance for this kind of result after his team shot a practice-round 147 during the previous week.
The Seahawks’ next scheduled match was set for April 3, a home match against Sussex Tech. Grove continues to work toward finding additional matches for his squad.
Delmarva Christian
The Royals of Delmarva Christian opened the season March 26 with a dominant 188-287 win over Mt. Sophia Academy on the front nine of Baywood Greens in Long Neck.
Senior Avery Brown led the way with a 39. Nicholas Gipko and Joel Perry followed with scores of 48 and 49, respectively. Freshman Avery McCoy rounded out the scoring with a 52.
Shameless boostering
Cape golf team boosters have a chance to show their support with a range of merchandise options, found at https://capegolfspring25.itemorder.com/shop/home/. Items include hats, visors, polos, pullovers and a golf towel.
The order deadline is Wednesday, April 9, with delivery and distribution set for the end of April.
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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.
