Cape golf team gains #1 ranking as regular season finishes
May 18, 2001
The Cape Henlopen golf team finished its regular season matches with a flourish as they began preparations for the Henlopen Conference tournament and the State championship.
On May 10, the Vikings beat Dover High’s team 147-157 at the Senators’ home course, Maple Dale Country Club. The ten-stroke victory doubled the margin by which Dover beat Cape at Rehoboth Beach Country Club on May 1, and knocked the Senators from their season-long No. 1 statewide ranking.
Tyler Witman made three birdies en route to a 2-under 34, for medalist honors. Adam Talley bounced back from his May 1 performance against Dover by firing a 37, finishing second among the Viking players. J.J. Oakley and Mark Johnson each scored 2-over 38s, making the second time this season (and second time ever) that all four Cape players scored in the thirties.
The Viking squad continued their winning ways with a 153-165 victory over No. 10 Polytech at Old Landing Golf Course on May 15. Witman led all players once again with a one-over 36. “I birdied the 7th and 8th holes, but bogeyed the first and doubled the fourth,” Witman explained.
Oakley and Johnson matched each other again, this time with 37s. Oakley said, “I birdied the first hole after hitting my drive into the trees. I parred the second, then bogeyed 3, 4, and 5, and parred out.” Johnson bogeyed the first and second, and parred the rest for his round.
Chris Donovan completed the team scoring with a 43. “I started out with some trouble, but I parred the last three holes.”
On Wednesday, May 16, the Cape players finished their regular season with another win over Smyrna at Garrison’s Lake Golf Club, by the fairly large margin of 155-202. Coach Jerry Dorneman said, “They made some remarkable scores considering how high the other team played.”
Witman took medalist honors again with a one-under 35. This time Johnson and Talley matched each other with 39s, while Oakley completed the team scoring with a 42 on the narrow, dry course.
The Henlopen Conference tournament is next for the 12-1 Vikings, to be held at Baywood Greens on Tuesday, May 22. The State Championship takes place May 29-30 at DuPont Country Club, home of the LPGA Championship in June.