The Sussex Academy golf team’s undefeated 2022 match record ended on May 5 by a single stroke.
Playing host at Kings Creek Country Club to Tatnall School of Wilmington and the Dover High Senators, the Seahawks beat Dover 143-198, but lost to Tatnall 142-143.
Sarah Lydic won medalist with her 33 on the front nine, followed by her sister Hannah’s 34 and Sawyer Brockstedt’s 35. Dominic Piperno’s 41 was one of his best results for the Seahawks.
Tatnall’s Matt Homer shot a 36, as did Jeff Homer and Anthony Ciconte. However, Jack Homer made a birdie on the last hole to win the match.
Sussex Academy head coach Doug Grove said, “I thought [the match] was great. Two heavyweight teams played at a very high level. The match featured seven of the top nine ranked players in Delaware who combined to shoot two-over par. We were very good; Tatnall was one shot better. We finished with a 143 [three-over par] and lost as Jack Homer birdied the last hole on a sidehill 15-footer for the win.
“I thought the match embodied everything that is great about high school sports, and I'm really proud of my team. It's hard to imagine high school golf played at a higher level than what these two teams did. As expected, Sarah, Hannah and Sawyer were fantastic. Our younger players gained a lot of experience against some really good competition that will help us in the conference and state tournaments.”
Tatnall knows what it’s like to play well and still lose. Archmere Academy defeated the Hornets by two strokes April 29 despite Tatnall’s team total of only three-over par.
The day before the Dover/Tatnall tri-match, the Seahawks traveled to Heritage Shores to play Sussex Tech and a solo golfer from Woodbridge. Academy won both contests, 161-185 against Tech and 161-300 against Woodbridge by forfeit.
Sarah Lydic won medalist with her 34, followed by sister Hannah’s 35. Keenan Williams shot a 44, and Austin Dostal’s 48 completed the Seahawks’ scoring.
Caleb Wilson was best for Sussex Tech with his 43. Luke Bunting’s 44, Aiden Kvilaug’s 48 and Corey Duke’s 50 made up the rest of Tech’s total.
The Seahawks returned to Kings Creek May 9, defeating Smyrna 164-213. Once again Sarah Lydic was medalist with her 36. Brockstedt posted a 39, with Piperno at 43 and Dostal finishing with a 46.
Vikings win three matches
The Cape Henlopen High School golf team traveled to Mulligan’s Pointe May 5 and defeated the Sussex Central squad 181-202.
Ethan Mercer won medalist with a 43 in his first time playing the Georgetown course. Jacob Gabbard posted a 45, second best for the Vikings. Tom Burn’s 46 and Dylan Steinwedel’s 47 completed the team scoring.
The Vikings took another road trip May 9 to play Odessa High and St. Georges Tech at Odessa National, site of this year’s state championship. Josh Freeman of St. Georges won medalist with his 36, but Cape won the team match on a rare fifth-score tiebreaker.
Burn’s 45, Mercer’s 46, Gabbard’s 49 and Flynn Kalb’s 50 totaled 190, the same score as the Hawks. Steinwedel’s 51 outpointed St. Georges’ fifth player for the unusual 241-252 result.
Odessa fielded three players and lost by forfeit to both Cape and St. Georges by the same score, 190-300.
Local club competition results
The Kings Creek Country Club Ladies 9-Hole group began their 2022 season May 3.
In the first flight, Yona Zucker won first-place gross. Chris Emery won first-place net, with Lesley Corydon in second and Terry Boston in third.
Darci Whitehead won first-place gross for the second flight. Judy Rayner took first-place net, with Deb Chase in second and Beth Cohen finishing third.
For the third flight, Brenda Schilli won first-place gross. Patty Quercetti won first-place net, with Stephanie Roash in second and Annett Stellhorn in third.
The Kings Creek CC Ladies 18-Hole group played their 2022 opener May 5 using a Baker’s Dozen format. The 13 best scores are used to rank the players.
In the first flight, Diane Herndon won first-place gross. Donna Deely won first-place net, with Kim Parks in second and Judy Wetzel in third.
Lori Guitson won first-place gross for the second flight. Jeannine Doane took first-place net, with Sheree Mixell in second and Faye Slatcher finishing third.
For the third flight, Marty Jaxheimer won first-place gross. Debbie Grant won first-place net, with Carol Loewen in second and Anne Farley in third.
The Mulligan’s Pointe Ladies 18-Hole group played a Two-Person Team event May 10.
Retta Rose Frampton and Brenda Joyce won first place, with Tammy Findlay and Dottie Pope taking second. Kathy Hudak and Deb Malenski finished third.
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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.
