Cape golf team continues its winning ways
May 5, 2006
Thus far there’s been nothing too special about the scores posted by the Cape Henlopen High School Viking golfers—except for the fact that the team keeps winning.
Since the opening match loss, the squad has put together an unbroken string of victories, helping to maintain their 10th place state ranking.
On Tuesday, April 25, the Vikings traveled to Shawnee Country Club and beat the Milford Buccaneers, 169-191.
Travis Parker took medalist honors with a two-over-par 38, his best score of the year. “I bogeyed the 4th, 5th, and 6th holes, and birdied the [par-5] 8th,” Parker said. “That was a good bounce back.”
Jason Hastings took second among the Vikings with his 41, while Alex Hatter contributed with his 44. Eric Sadowski finished the team scoring with his 46, “That was my best round yet,” he said. “It felt good. The par-3s were more trouble than the other holes.”
The team hosted the Seaford Blue Jays at Rehoboth Beach Country Club on Wednesday, April 26, and won handily, 181-197. Parker and Hastings were co-medalists with a pair of 43s. Sam Purple described her round as “the best 46 I’ve ever had.” She explained that her score included an 11 on the par-5 4th hole, with three balls going in the water. On that basis, a 46 does look pretty good.
Dan Scrutchfield and Sadowski tied for fourth place among the Vikings with their 49s. That was Scrutchfield’s best match score this year.
The team then took a road trip to Maple Dale Country Club in Dover on Friday, April 28, and beat Smyrna 175-196. Hastings and Smyrna’s Jim Ryan tied for co-medalist, with 42s on the back nine.
Hastings said, “My score didn’t show it but I played pretty well. I duck-hooked the first drive out of bounds, but did well after that. My shot on the 13th hole ended up 6 inches away from the hole. I couldn’t miss it.”
Parker’s 43 was second, notable for his sand shot finish on the last hole. “I had an awkward lie, and I was mad about the shot that got me in there. I might have hit it thin, but I was just glad it went in.”
Purple scored a 44 for third-best among the Vikings. “I hit all but one of the greens in regulation. Putting was the biggest problem. My chipping is getting better.”
Hatter’s 46 completed the team scoring. “I’ve been missing most of the fairways in the last three matches,” he said.
The Vikings then hosted Sussex Central on Wednesday, May 03, and won again 183-198.
Tristan Karsnitz and Parker tied as co-medalists with a pair of 45s. The taciturn Karsnitz shyly agreed he had a good round, his best in competition this year. “I had three pars, and a couple doubles. On the 4th hole, I hit a good chip and made the one-putt for par.”
Parker was less thrilled with his own performance. “I thought it was pathetic, but I’ll take it.”
Hastings didn’t like his putting, a major contributor to his 46. Purple wasn’t too happy about her 47, either. “I had a lot of three-putts. Nothing was working today.”
Next week the Vikings have four matches scheduled, including tough meets against Dover and Sussex Tech, as they prepare for the conference championship and the state championship at the end of the month. Head Coach Claudio Smarelli thinks that the conference meet should be closely fought among a few of the top teams, with Cape having a real chance to do well.
A natural remedy–Tabasco® sauce.
While at the Shawnee Country Club practice range the other day, I saw one of the young staffers approach the artificial turf hitting mats, while holding a bottle of Tabasco® hot sauce in one hand.
He carefully poured the fiery liquid over the rubber tees on the mats.
This frankly seemed like a pretty odd thing to do, so I asked him about it.
“This helps keep the foxes from chewing off the tees,” he said.
I could easily imagine how it would—unless, of course, the foxes were from Louisiana.