Cape golf team has nice little streak going
May 2, 2008
The Cape Henlopen High School golf team continues to improve its match-play record, as the 2008 season wends its way toward the conference and state championships later this month.
On April 29 the Vikings stretched their current win streak to seven games, with a 172-182 victory over Smyrna High School, on Maple Dale Country Club’s back nine. Senior Captain Dino Nardo won medallist honors with a 39, his lowest competitive score this season.
“It was good,” he said. “I had a birdie on [the par-five 18th]. I hit driver and 4-iron, and then stuck my 56[-degree wedge] about this far from the hole,” as he held his hands eight inches apart. His only troublesome hole for the day was a double-bogey on a relatively short par-three. “I flew the green with my wedge, and coming back I ran it over the green and into a trap. I took three out of the trap and two-putted,” Nardo explained.
Zack Murr had his best competitive round of the year with his 42, second-best among the Vikings. “I was just hitting the ball really solid, and some of my drives were going pretty well.”
By pretty well, he estimated his tee shots went about 260 yards, with a slight fade.
I’d have to agree.
Murr admitted to a little trouble on the newly aerated greens. “I had two three-putts, one on a par three where I was pretty far off for the first putt.”
Casey Anderson shot a 46, as did Devin Medd, for the rest of the Viking scoring that day. Anderson wasn’t too pleased with his 10-over performance. “I hit a couple O.B., and a few in the ponds and the little creeks. That really killed my score. I did make a bogey after one pond, though.”
Medd was happy to contribute. “It was okay. I only parred one hole, the seventeenth, a short par four. I doubled 11. I crushed my drive, and shanked my second shot. The greens were soft. You could just go right at the hole.”
Head Coach Claudio Smarrelli also made a point of noting that Medd and fellow freshman Paul Jang, on the JV squad, both made All-Academic honors for their straight A’s.
On April 22, the Vikings hosted Seaford at Kings Creek Country Club, and won 180-191. Tristan Karsnitz took co-medallist honors with Seaford’s Matt Lank with a pair of 42s. Nardo finished second among the Cape squad with his 43, and Sean Toner shot a 47 for third place. Dan Scrutchfield finished the team scoring with his 48. Scrutchfield said, “I couldn’t drive the ball or chip it,” which is a good explanation for a 12-over par day.
The day before, Milford High School hosted Cape at Shawnee Country Club, and lost to the Vikings 163-184. Most years these two teams’ scores are much closer. Anderson led all players with his 39, with Nardo coming in second with his 40. Karsnitz followed up with his 41, and Scrutchfield was fourth best Viking with his 43, in what he described as “pouring rain” conditions.
On April 17, the Vikings beat Laurel High School at Seaford Country Club, 172-200. Nardo won medallist honors with his 40, with Anderson second best for the squad with his 43. Karsnitz shot a 44, and Scrutchfield finished the team score with his 45. Nicholas Purnell competed in his first Viking varsity match, and seemed to enjoy it. “I was a little nervous at first, but it was all right. I had mostly bogeys and a few double-bogeys. The course was wide open,” Purnell said.
In a nonconference match, the Cape team also beat Delmarva Christian April 16 at Kings Creek CC, 165-206. The small school only fielded four players. Anderson won the medallist position with his 38, and Nardo took second with his 41. Karsnitz shot a 42, and Scrutchfield finished with a 44.
Smarrelli said, “Overall, the team is just squeaking by. We have four matches next week, against Indian River, Sussex Central, Sussex Tech, and Polytech. I’m hoping they’ll continue to work and get ready for the conference meet. I know they have the ability.”