Cape wins one and loses one in early season play
April 17, 2015
The Cape Henlopen High School Viking golf team split their two most recent matches, with an April 1 win against Laurel, 182-265, and an April 13 loss against perennial Henlopen Conference powerhouse Caesar Rodney, 172-186.
The victory came at Kings Creek Country Club, which is hosting several matches this season for the Vikings. Coach Claudio Smarrelli said, “The course is in great shape. They had done their aerating, and a few days before the match there was a downpour. The greens were nice, and rolling good.”
Matt Zehner won medalist honors for the second time this season, with a 42 on Kings Creek’s front nine. “I had a really good start that day, and finished with bogeys,” he said.
Mason Jones shot a 45, tied with Jack Ashby for second best among all players. Mason said, “I played the same way as Matt. I played well to start and then went downhill.”
Ashby said he felt good about his overall play in the Laurel match. “I parred both par-3s, and parred two of the par-fours, and doubled a par-four and a par-five.”
Rachel Hagan completed the team scoring against Laurel with her 50. “My chipping was really bad, but everything else was good. I used my three-wood instead of my driver, and that helped.”
The Vikings hosted Caesar Rodney on the front nine at Rehoboth Beach Country Club after spring break. Because the fifth hole is undergoing reconstruction, the players used the club’s famous bayside par-3 19th hole to complete the round.
Mike DeStasio took medalist honors for the day with a very good 40 in blustery conditions. “I birdied my first hole [#2], bogeyed the next hole, and then had four pars in a row. I putted a lot better today than I often did last year, when I made a lot of three-putts.”
Zehner shot a 43 for second best among the Vikings. “I had a bad start to the round, and then parred a couple holes. I made a 30 foot putt for birdie on the seventh hole.”
Jones was not at all pleased with his 48, and after the round went immediately to the practice range to work out the kinks.
Quincy Duckworth played his first match of the season, and admitted that his 55 total was not up to snuff. “I parred the fourth hole, but had a few snowmen in there also, including the nineteenth hole, when I hit into the water.”
Smarrelli was none too pleased at his team’s overall performance against Caesar Rodney, as he hoped the Vikings would be far more competitive against the Riders.
The team is scheduled to play Sussex Tech at the Peninsula on April 15, followed the next day by another away match against Delmar High School at Green Hill Yacht and Country Club near Salisbury, MD.
Boy Scouts at Midway Par 3 May 29
Troop 2540 engages over 30 active Boy Scouts from the Cape Region, with a schedule that includes a camping or other activity each month. Sponsored by the Cape Henlopen Elks Lodge 2540, the troop meets weekly at the Lewes School.
The Troop’s first annual Par 3 Golf Tournament Fundraiser is May 29 at Midway Par 3 near Lewes.
Five-player teams begin competing at 5 p.m. in a scramble format, with a shotgun start. The $50 per person entry fee includes a BOGO round, closest to the hole prizes, hot dogs and hamburgers, and club rentals if needed. Prizes and raffles will also be offered.
Tournament sponsorships and donations are cheerfully accepted and sought. For more information contact Scott Brown at Lewes17@yahoo.com or Rick Jones at PAR3RICK@aol.com.
Local Club Competition Results
The Kings Creek Ladies 9 Hole group’s April 13 event was the first of many for the season. Jeanne Drake won first place, Helene Guilfoy took second, and Susan Spence finished in third. Evelyn Vanderloo won the closest to the pin honors with an approach coming to rest 4 feet 2 inches away from hole number 11.