Caesar Rodney and Wind Blow Away Cape Golf Team
April 4, 2008
The Cape Henlopen High School golf team traveled to Wild Quail Golf & Country Club April 1 for its traditional opening season match against the Riders of Caesar Rodney High School.
The match ended in traditional fashion, with the host team beating the Vikings once again. This time the match was nowhere near as close as the margin of Rider victories in recent years, however, with Cape losing 158-180.
Ouch, as they say.
Viking head coach Claudio Smarrelli said simply, “It was a very windy day, as normal as spring would allow it to be. I think the winds were running at 30-40 miles per hour. Caesar Rodney is very good this year, with everyone back from last year’s team. I expect them to do well the entire season.”
A new Viking, sophomore transfer Casey Anderson, led his team with a 41. He moved here from Marinette, Wisconsin, where they also play high school golf in the spring. “They wouldn’t begin their season until about two weeks from now, though,” he grinned.
Anderson’s 5-over-par effort on the front nine was a good start to his first Viking season, although his round didn’t end the way he hoped. “I was doing well until the last hole. I doubled 9. I had two really bad lies and I couldn’t do anything with them.”
Team Captain Dino Nardo was fighting a sinus infection before the round began, and it definitely affected his score (44). “I didn’t feel good. I had some trouble on the 7th hole, and was really ready for it to get over with. Casey played good.”
Tristan Karsnitz shot a 47, and admitted that he didn’t play up to his usual standards. “The wind made the course a lot harder than it is. Not knowing the course well and not knowing where to miss a shot also didn’t help.”
Dan Scrutchfield completed the Viking scoring with his 48. “It was not good at all. I had three 3-putts and could not get my chips close all day. I had one par on the [par-5] fifth hole. I drove into a drainage ditch, took a drop, put my next shot on the green, and made the putt.”
Freshman Devon Medd was surprised at his reaction to his first varsity match. “I didn’t think I’d be nervous, but I was.” His score of 50 was not that bad, considering his handicap and the conditions, as well as his first round jitters. He also parred the fifth hole, and said he settled down over the last several holes.
Matthew Kersey also played his first high school golf match as a ninth-grader, and readily admitted he was nervous. “I’m not going to lie about it. I choked. I’m going to try to stay at 45 or under for the next match.”
The Vikings next host the Delmar squad at Rehoboth Beach Country Club on April 3, and then play Salesianum High on April 7.
Shawnee Country Club begins its golden anniversary season
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of Shawnee Country Club in Milford, and the club is making a special effort to commemorate the event.
On April 10, the Ladies’ Opening Day tournament will be held, for both the 9 and 18 holer groups. They’ll compete in a scramble that begins with a shotgun start at 10:00 a.m., followed by a lunch and meeting.
On April 13 the club will hold its Men’s Opening Breakfast tournament. The ABCD Scramble will pair teams by handicap index, with a 10:00 a.m. shotgun start after an 8:00 a.m. breakfast.
The event really begins, however, with a Giant Demo Day starting at 7:30 a.m. Clubs will be available to try out on the range from a wide variety of manufacturers, including Adams Golf, Callaway, Nike, Ping, Taylormade, Titleist, and Cobra.
For information about either event, call the Shawnee pro shop at 302-422-7010.