Cape golf team wins in wacky weather
April 6, 2001
Will it ever get warmer?
Several fans and parents following the Cape Henlopen golf team found themselves asking that question more than once in the last week.
On the other hand, the matches went on, despite wind, rain, and biting cold, and the Vikings kept winning.
On March 29, the team beat the Indian River squad at Cripple Creek Country Club, 164-215 in steady drizzle.
“Considering the weather, I was really impressed with the scores,” Coach Jerry Dorneman said. “It was miserable out there. There was a threat of rain all day, but their coach and I decided to play the match anyway. Of course, it started raining as soon as we started, and it never let up.”
Dorneman laughed and said, “I think the parents took a bigger beating than the kids with all the cold and the rain, standing around watching.”
Tyler Witman handled the conditions well, shooting a 2-under par 34 for medalist honors. “I birdied the first and seventh holes, and parred the rest.”
Adam Talley shot a 43, including a 9 on one hole and a 7 on another. “I drove two balls within one foot of each other on the same hole, both out of bounds. That’s where the 9 came from,” Talley explained.
Christina Wagamon made her first contribution to the team’s scoring with a 46. “It rained and all, but it was really fun,” Wagamon said.
J.J. Oakley did well in his first match of the season with a 41, and Jason Ritthaler shot a 52.
Shannon Prettyman had never played Cripple Creek before. She finished her first match competition with a 47, including a par on the eighth hole, the club’s featured par 5.
On April 3, the team hosted Laurel High School’s squad at Rehoboth Beach Country Club, and won by a comfortable 170-194 score. Once again, the score was the only thing comforting about the day. A 15- to 20-mile per hour southwest wind blew in off Rehoboth Bay and chilled the players and fans more than the mid-40s temperature did by itself.
Witman again led all players, but his 40 upset the talented junior golfer. “I drove up against a tree again, just like last week, but this time on the fourth hole.” A following bogey on the short par-3 fifth hole also left Witman fuming.
Oakley shot a 42 for the second-best Viking score: “I had two double bogeys and two bogeys, and reached the green in regulation on only five holes.”
Johnson felt his 43 resulted from trying too hard. “I hit seven greens in regulation, but I had four three-putts.”
Ritthaler bounced back from his disappointing Cripple Creek round with a 45. “I birdied the second hole from about 10 feet. Then I tripled the fourth hole, and drove my tee shot on the sixth hole right into the pond for another triple. Otherwise I played pretty well.”
Wagamon started her round on the ninth hole, and drove left out of bounds. She recovered for a double bogey 7 on that hole and a 47 overall, including three pars. “That was a weird start, especially since my mistakes usually go to the right,” Wagamon grinned.
Christian Donovan also shot a 47, but felt he could have been more consistent. “I’d make a good shot and then mess up the next one. I also had some lip-outs on some of the par putts.”
On April 5, Cape was scheduled to host Lake Forest High School. The Vikings then play Milford High on April 10.
Short Putts
There’s still time for Cape Region businesses to donate items or gift certificates for the silent auction and raffle at the Sixth Annual Pink Ribbon Golf Classic, to be held May 4 at Sussex Pines Country Club.
The popular ladies’ tournament supports breast cancer detection and assistance provided by Mammography of Delaware. Anyone wishing to contribute should contact Delores Springer at 302-945-8652.