Cape golf team opens 2000 season with victory over Delmar
March 31, 2000
Cape Henlopen High School’s varsity golf team won its first match of the 2000 season on March 28 against Delmar High School, by the wide margin of 162-209. The Vikings hosted the Wildcats at Rehoboth Beach Country Club.
Tyler Witman is a freshman transfer to Cape who recently won an appeal to state scholastic sports officials to be allowed to play this season. Witman celebrated by leading all scorers with a 39. Junior Adam Talley shot a 40, and senior co-captain Josh Marr scored a 41. Junior Mark Johnson’s 42 completed the Cape scores that counted. Senior co-captain Beau Marr played to a 44, and junior transfer J.J. Oakley finished his first competitive high school match with a 45.
Henlopen Conference golf matches are a blend of individual and team scoring. Two teammates play together against a pair from the other school. Golfers play their own ball, but their teammates can help with club selection, alignment, and other advice during the round. The winning team is determined from the best four scores for each team.
This is Delmar High’s first year of varsity golf in the Henlopen Conference. Coach Matt McGinnis and Assistant Coach Kevin Ralph brought a young but eager team of five golfers for the season opener. The Wildcats were led by Travis Ralph’s 49, followed by Chris Ziandiac (53), Sean D’Armi (53), Chris Marr (54), and Mike Ziandiac (60).
When the new Wolfe Creek Golf Club south of Delmar is completed this summer, it will become the Wildcats’ home layout next season. In the meantime, Delmar must travel to all their matches this season.
Both teams were forced to contend with a heavy downpour that lasted three holes, along with 25 mile per hour gusts. Co-head coach Steve Wolak said, “The rain hit them on the fourth hole. Our team had solid scores despite the weather.”
Co-head coach Jerry Dorneman said, “It was a good first match. They played under tough conditions.”
Mark Johnson put it more succinctly: “I got soaked.”
Seniors Bobby Croce and Jason Blanshine are the remaining varsity players for the Vikings. They will be in the starting rotation in later matches, according to Wolak.
Six junior varsity Cape golfers will compete in their first exhibition contest on Thursday, March 30 against a contingent from Indian River High School. While the varsity squads from the two schools will compete at Rehoboth Beach Country Club, the JV squad of Chris Donovan, Sean Donovan, Brad Schneider, Jason Ritthaler, Christine Wagamon, and Shannon Prettyman will test their skills at The Golf Park at Rehoboth.
Dorneman said, “This is a rare opportunity for the JV players to compete against another school, even if it’s not official. They’re pretty excited.”
The junior varsity squad will experience a new wrinkle this year. For the first time, the JV players will practice once a week with the varsity golfers. “We thought it was especially important for the development of the JV players to play along with the varsity players. It should be a good learning experience for them,” said Wolak.
Several volunteer assistant coaches will assist Wolak and Dorneman this season. Dusty Shockley works with the varsity a few days each week. Chris Corrozi, Corey Groll, and Bob Keeney help out with the large contingent of junior varsity players.
The rest of the JV players include Micah Vugrinec, Reinie Vugrinec, Jonathon Harp, and Mike Schneider.
After the Indian River match, the Vikings will have two more home matches against Laurel and Lake Forest on April 4 and 6. The team then travels to Shawnee Country Club April 11 to face Milford.