Windy course challenges golfers at Rehoboth Beach Junior Open
June 18, 2004
Occasionally strong, gusty winds provided a real test of skill for the nearly 75 golfers competing in this year’s Rehoboth Beach Junior Open on June 14 at Rehoboth Beach Country Club. Nonetheless, several young players were up to the challenge.
Jay Whitby, an incoming senior at Caesar Rodney High School in Camden, won the 16-18 Boys championship with an even-par 72. He’s hoping to play for either Virginia Tech or LSU after he finishes high school. Christian Freymeyer, of Prospect Bay, Maryland, finished in second place with a 78.
Courtney Gunter is a young girl, but her golf game showed quite a bit of maturity. She shot an 84 to win the Girls category by a single shot over Dover High’s Danielle Lugo. “I missed a lot of putts, and I went into the water a few times. It was fun,” Gunter grinned shyly.
With that kind of performance this early in her career, Gunter may soon be counted among the best junior golfers in the state. She just finished the 7th grade at the MOT Charter school near Middletown, and her family belongs to Christiana Country Club.
Johnny Mylnarski, who plays at Harbourtown when at home in St. Michaels, Maryland, won the 14-15 Boys segment with a fine 76, second best to Whitby among all of the golfers in the Open. Matt Loeslein of Wilmington took second with an 83, after a playoff with Max Gebhart.
Jerry Temple and Clayton Bunting tied for first in the 11-13 Boys category with a pair of 89s. Temple won the playoff.
John Purple scored best among the Cape Region golfers with a 79. “I played with better rhythm on the back nine,” he said. “I put my ball within a foot on 13—almost an ace!”
Brett Hertel was a shot behind his fellow Viking with an 80. “I was doing real well, at 2-over par, until I tripled 13. That was easy—in the water, then chunk, chunk, and two putts.”
Alex Hatter shot a 90, which he considered a hopeful sign for playing on the Cape golf team next spring. “I shot a 46/44. I had 2 bogeys, 8 pars, 8 doubles, and no triples.”
Jason Hastings wasn’t too pleased with his 92, except for his tee shot on the par-3 fifth hole. “It stopped three inches from the hole. That was a short birdie putt.”
The Open is a popular end-of-school-year event for junior golfers across the Delmarva Peninsula, and not just for the golf. It’s also the occasion for the announcement of the winners from the Delaware State Golf Association Scholarship Committee. This year’s winners, their schools, and the amount awarded for up to four years if they keep up their grades are as follows:
Gardner Semmelman, Kennett High, $4,000; Andrew Geyer, Milford High, $2,500; Brett Hertel, Cape Henlopen, $2,000; Stephen Walton, Downingtown West, $2,000; Thomas Guillebeau, Salesianum and Joseph Parker, St. Marks, $1,000 each.
In addition, four juniors were awarded special one-year scholarships of $1,000 each: Anthony Dorazio, Wilmington; Ryan Harrison, Mt. Pleasant; Nicklas Frederick, Red Lion Christian; and Stephen Meier, Salesianum. Mike Gora of Sussex Central also received a special $500 scholarship.
Wagamon wins flight in Delaware Women’s Amateur
Christina Wagamon is a former golfer for Cape Henlopen and now plays for Catawba College in North Carolina. She distinguished herself in this year’s Delaware Women’s Amateur championship, held June 7-9 at Kings Creek Country Club. Wagamon won the second flight, one level below the championship category, with a three-day total of 236.
“I shot a 79 the first day, then an 80 on the second day. On the last day, I shot a 77, with a 36 on the back 9. We played from the red tees, so on a lot of holes I had to hold back from using my driver. It’s a target course anyway, so that wasn’t such a big deal.”
Wagamon usually played third among the Catawba golfers last year. “One of the girls in front of me graduated. I’m hoping to stay in the top three next season.”