Cape golf team loses first meet by narrow margin
March 26, 1999
Cape Henlopen High School began its 1999 season on March 23 at its home course, Rehoboth Beach Country Club, against the Caesar Rodney Riders, last year’s state champions. The Vikings lost by 9 strokes, 164-173.
Danny Prettyman shot a 38 against Chris Noll of Caesar Rodney, who shot 37. Mark Johnson did well for his first varsity match with a 44. Bobby Croce finished with a 45, and Josh Marr shot 46. Two Caesar Rodney golfers followed Noll with 41s, and their fourth golfer’s score of 45 completed the Riders’ victory.
Coach Dorneman felt that his golfers might have had a slight case of nerves in facing such strong competition this early in the season.
Cape Henlopen High School is frequently blessed with a nice contingent of golfers. This year is no exception. Thirty golfers turned out to play, yet another indication of golf’s general popularity.
Danny Prettyman is the only senior on the 10-player varsity squad. The team captain will play for Maryland next year on a golf scholarship. Robert Croce and the Marr twins, Josh and Beau, are the junior starters. Sophomores Adam Talley and Mark Johnson round out the top six spots.
Four juniors, Jason Blanshine, Nicholas “Trip” DelCampo, Jonathan Harp, and Edward Hopkins will compete for playing spots in upcoming weeks.
Henlopen Conference golf matches blend individual play with a team concept. Each school uses six players in the nine-hole contests. Two teammates play together against a pair from the other school. Golfers play their own ball, but their teammate can help with club selection, alignment, and other advice during the round. The winner is the team with the best four of six scores.
Ironically, the coaches can’t coach during the matches. They decide who’s playing that day, handle the occasional rules dispute, and play a few holes themselves while waiting for the matches to finish.
The coaches usually put the No. 1 players against each other, and so on down the line. Occasionally team members are switched around based on other factors, such as compatible styles of play. Golf team members who don’t make that day’s competition roster either play the competition course or head for one of the other local courses to play.
The team traveled March 25 to Sussex Pines Country Club to face Sussex Central. Dorneman would like to beat last year’s 8-6 season record.
Both Dorneman and co-head coach, Steve Wolak, really appreciate the support of the local golf courses for the Cape team, especially Rehoboth, Old Landing Golf Course, Rehoboth Golf Park, and Midway Par 3.
The team’s volunteer coaches also provide a great community service. While Wolak and Dorneman concentrate on the varsity squad, Robert Keeney, John Drumheller, John Hilton, and Mike McKibbin help out with the junior varsity.
The junior varsity is a mix of sophomores and freshmen. Mathew Dickens, Chris Donovan, Sean Fullmer, Chetam Reddy, Jason Ritthaler, Carlton Savage, and Andrew Ullman are the tenth-grader contingent.
Thirteen ninth-graders joined the Cape team this year: William Albanese, Matthew Baker, Sean Donovan, Ross Karsnitz, John Lehne, Michael Oswald, Shannon Prettyman, Ricky Rawlins, Charles Ruggerio, Michael Schneider, Reinie Vugrinec, Christina Wagamon, and William Walker.
The Cape Region’s golfers and visitors to Hole By Hole will be following the Viking teams’ adventures in this column. Let’s hope that the kids all have fun and play well.