Cape golf team wins two and loses a close one
The Cape Henlopen High golf team traveled to Wild Quail Golf & Country Club April 3 for a tri-meet against Caesar Rodney and Milford. The Vikings posted a 161, not quite enough to overcome the Riders’ 154, but enough to defeat the Buccaneers’ 179 total.
Ryan McNett shot his best score for Cape with his team-leading 38 on the front nine.
Freshman Jack Tunnell also posted his lowest score so far, a fine three-over par 39. Gabby Hamstead and Chad Hughey both shot 42 to complete the team scoring. Tyler Healy posted a 44 and Kingston Davis shot a 46 for their rounds.
The scheduled April 7 Cape to Cape series match against Lower Cape May Regional High School fell victim to bad weather when steady rains forced the temporary closure of Cape May National Golf Club. The match is currently rescheduled for Wednesday, April 16.
The Vikings returned to Wild Quail April 8 to face Polytech, a team Cape had not beaten since 2019. This time they emerged triumphant with a 161-170 defeat of the Panthers on the front nine.
McNett won his second medalist honors of the season with an even-par 36, a stroke ahead of Polytech senior Kylie Yiengst and his best score of the year. Tunnell kept up the pressure with his 4-over par 40. Jacob Gabbard contributed a 42 to the team’s total in his second varsity match for the year. Davis finished the team’s total with his 43. Hughey posted a 46 and Hamstead finished with a 47.
“I had two birdies, two bogeys, and the rest were pars,” McNett said. “But the really cool part of the round was that I only had 12 putts for nine holes – and one of them was a three-putt.”
Assistant coach Lisa Hutchins said, “It was a great win. The conditions were brutal, but the players all hung in there.”
This being Masters Week, Hutchins commemorated the first major of the year once again with a bulging sack of her homemade pimento cheese sandwiches. The Polytech team declined the delicacy. However, the Vikings had no trouble scarfing down this special post-round snack.
Seahawks start a streak
Sussex Academy continued its low scoring and winning ways April 3, defeating Sussex Tech 153-187 on the back nine of Kings Creek Country Club.
Seahawk Ryan Dostal won medalist honors with his even-par 36. Dominic Piperno posted a 38, with McKenna Danahy a stroke back at 39. Sam Metz completed the team scoring with his 40.
The Seahawks kept a good thing going April 9 with a 158-166 win over Caesar Rodney on the Kings Creek back nine. Storms and wet conditions forced a rescheduling from April 7. However, the Wednesday match weather remained unseasonably cold.
CR senior Reagan Garnsey earned medalist honors with her even-par 36. Sussex Academy’s Metz came next with a 37, his best of the season thus far.
Quentin Bowman was the second-best Seahawks scorer with his 38. It was also his season low. Jordon Green fired a 41 in his first varsity score for the academy, and Ryan Dostal’s 42 finished the team total.
“Thank God it wasn’t windy,” Academy head coach Doug Grove said. “We’ve got pretty good depth. It helps make our practices really competitive.”
That depth comes in handy. For example, at this point in the season, senior golfers for several local high school teams take time away from the course to finish up a few more college visits. This and other important issues can create more urgency for teams to be able to rely on more than a stock set of the minimum six golfers for a match.
After three straight home matches, the Seahawks next have three consecutive away contests. The first is set for April 10 against Polytech at Wild Quail, followed by a Tuesday, April 15 match against Woodbridge at Heritage Shores and a match at Southern Delaware Golf Club against Milford Thursday, April 17.
Delmarva Christian Academy
The Delmarva Christian Academy golf team won its second match of the season against Caravel Academy April 2 on the back nine at Baywood Greens, the Royals’ home course.
Senior Avery Brown won medalist honors with his 41 in the team’s 204-208 victory. Other DCA golfers contributing to the win included Joel Perry (47), Cole Parker (57) and Avery McCoy (59).
The team played a tri-meet at Baywood April 8 against Wilmington Friends and Sussex Tech. The Royals defeated Sussex Tech by a single point, 197-198, but lost to Friends 180-197.
Brown won medalist again with his 39, followed by Perry’s 47. McCoy posted a 54, while Connor Wall finished the team’s score with his 57. Corey Duke’s 47 was best for Tech. Quinn Marshall and Owen Newmark tied for first among the Friends crew with a pair of 44s.
Demo day at Rookery May 16
Five golf club manufacturers will be at The Rookery’s practice range from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday, May 16, showing off their latest wares.
Sales reps from Cobra, Callaway, Ping, Mizuno and TaylorMade will take appointments first, but walk-ups remain welcome. To book a time, call The Rookery’s pro shop at 302-684-3000.
