Cape comes close at Rock Manor, beats Dover
April 3, 2009
Cape Henlopen High School’s golf team is showing some early promise for the 2009 season, with a close-fought match against upstate powerhouse Salesianum, and the Vikings’ first win of the spring against the Dover High Senators.
Some kind of major scheduling snafu wiped out the March 26 match against Delmar High. Therefore, the Vikings’ first chance to rebound from their opening match loss against Caesar Rodney took place Monday, March 30, at the newly renovated Rock Manor Golf Course in Wilmington. They lost by only three strokes, 170-173.
“The kids played well against Sallies,” said head coach Claudio Smarrelli. “I have to give them a lot of credit, especially with the windy conditions. There was just some bumbling on the last hole, and that’s where the three strokes came from.”
Jerry Temple of Sallies took medallist honors with a one-over par 36, while Tristan Karsnitz led the Viking contingent with a 42. “I liked the course,” Karsnitz said. “It was well-managed and well-kept.”
Junior Casey Anderson shot a 43 in his first-ever round at Rock Manor, and also enjoyed the course. “I liked it, but the greens were kind of rough, a little bumpy.”
Devin Medd also shot a 43. “The course was really nice, but it was also really windy. It was sideswiping the whole course.”
Dan Scrutchfield tied with Sean Toner for fourth-best among the Cape players with a pair of 45s. Scrutchfield said, “I loved the course. I messed up the first and the last holes, but the rest of them I played fine. It was a fun course to play.”
The Vikings returned to Rehoboth Beach Country Club’s front nine March 31 for its second Henlopen Conference match against Dover, and won 164-174.
Karsnitz led all scorers with an even-par 36, a great score for a cold windy day, especially with newly aerated and top-dressed greens. “That was my best round ever in a match,” said the smiling senior. He birdied the fifth and seventh holes, bogeyed the second and sixth holes, and parred the rest. His long putt for birdie on the ninth hole did a 360-degree lip out, leaving him with a tap-in for par.
Anderson shot a nice 41 for second-best among the Vikings. “I parred [hole numbers] 2, 3, 5, and 7, and bogeyed the rest. “I shouldn’t have gone for the green on [my second shot to] the fourth hole,” he said. “It went into the water.”
Medd matched his score from the day before with another 43. “I parred the fifth, seventh, and ninth holes. I took a double on the fourth, when my shot to the green went over it and into a marshy area. I took a big swing and it went 10 feet, then I chipped and two-putted.”
Sophomore Nick Purnell made his varsity debut for 2009 with a 44. “That’s my best round. I’ve been shooting 48s and 49s. I parred number 9 and number 5, and had a couple doubles.”
The Vikings were scheduled to play next at Cripple Creek Country Club April 2, against Indian River.
New Membership Options
Shawnee Country Club announced a new membership option for the upcoming golf season, and it’s well worth considering. For $750, the special introductory membership includes four complimentary greens fees, and unlimited golf access from May 1 through October 31 for $25 per round. The special membership also includes eligibility for all club tournaments, as well as unlimited use of the clubhouse, pool, and tennis facilities for the member and immediate family.
For more information, contact the Shawnee business office at 302-422-9745, the pro shop at 302-422-7010, or you can apply at the club’s website.
Post those scores
For golfers who maintain an official USGA handicap index, April 1 was the first day to begin posting golf scores on their club’s computers. The posting season ends October 31.
For some players, posting might put to rest some nagging sense that their competitors were perhaps not putting forth their best efforts last fall, in order to keep their handicaps high over the winter. For others, posting might just confirm those impressions.