Cape golf team splits more matches

The golfers for the Cape golf team might be forgiven for feeling a little snakebitten after their most recent narrow defeats.

The Vikings traveled to Jonathans Landing near Magnolia April 19 and lost to Milford’s Buccaneers 179-180. This is Cape’s second one-stroke loss this season, with the first one coming in the first match March 18 against Sussex Academy. 

Milford’s Noah Marcelle won medalist honors with a 39, his best score of the year. Dalen Daminger led the Vikings with a 44, followed by 45s posted by Eddie Ghabour and Tyler Healy. Brendan Staggs completed the team scoring with a 46. 

The Vikings then hosted the Lower Cape May Regional High team at Rehoboth Beach Country Club April 22, winning 176-194. The South Jersey golfers came over on the Cape May-Lewes Ferry for the first of the Cape-to-Cape Series. For some, it was their first time crossing Delaware Bay. 

Both teams committed to a rematch in Cape May next year, while hoping for a continuation of a new cross-bay rivalry for years to come.

Lower Cape May coach Anthony D’Aleo expressed his appreciation to the ferry for the Capers’ free passage to Lewes. Both squads also enjoyed special treats from the Chick-Fil-A restaurant on Route 1 and the folks at Fisher’s Popcorn in Rehoboth Beach.

“We had a great time today,” D’Aleo said.

Cape sophomore Chad Hughey earned his first-ever medalist honors with a nice 41. Kingston Davis followed up with a 44 for second best for the Vikings. Daminger’s 45 took third overall, with Staggs and Jacob Gabbard tying for the final fourth score with a pair of 46s.

The Vikings then stumbled against Delmar High School April 22 in windy conditions at Rehoboth Beach CC, losing 167-177. The Wildcats’ total was a single stroke higher than their season best against Woodbridge April 11 at Heritage Shores. 

Delmar’s Phoenix Banks’ 39 took medalist honors, with Gabbard’s 41 the best score Cape could muster. 

The Vikings’ Travers Johnson returned to scoring with his 43, with Daminger posting another 45. Davis and Healy tied for fourth best among Cape golfers with a pair of uncharacteristic 48s.

Viking assistant coach Bill Geppert said more than one Delmar golfer told him they played their best golf of the season that day.

Cape returned to action at Rehoboth Beach CC April 24 in a tri-match against Laurel and Sussex Tech. The Vikings split the contest, defeating Laurel 183-278, but losing yet another close one to Sussex Tech, 177-183.

The Ravens victorious score was its lowest of the season, with Luke Bunting and Racyn Hastings earning co-medalist honors with 42s. Cape’s 183 total matched its worst score of the year, made against Sussex Academy at Kings Creek Country Club March 18.

Daminger scored a 43 for best among the Vikings, followed by Johnson’s 46. Gabbard and Logan Gamuciello completed the team score for Cape with a pair of 48s.

Daminger’s explanation for some of the extra strokes that led to a seven on the par 3 third hole was emblematic of the struggle Cape’s team had as a whole. “I missed the green. Then I hit a short chip. Then I hit a long chip.” 

Gamuciello was deeply annoyed at a series of three putts, while Johnson had more bunker trouble than normal.

Geppert noted again how the other schools seem to up their game when playing Cape – which could be considered flattering. 

Winning would be even better.

The now 5-6 Vikings return to action Thursday, May 2m at Maple Dale to play Dover High’s Senators.

Local high school results 

Sussex Academy’s lone match of the last week came April 18, when they beat Woodbridge 180-246 at Kings Creek Country Club in Rehoboth Beach. The Seahawks posted the six best scores of the day. Austin Dostal led the way with a 42. He was followed by Dominic Piperno with a 44, eighth-grader Nicholas DeEmedio and freshman Jordan Green with a pair of 46s and Quentin Bowman and McKenna Danahy with a pair of 48s. The Seahawks are 8-2 on the season. 

Delmarva Christian had a busy week. On April 18, the Royals tied Wilmington Friends 156-156 at Back Creek Golf Club in Middletown. The Royals’ Lance McQuay took medalist honors with a 35, one of five players to break 40 on the day. Other Delmarva Christian golfers scoring in the 30s were Avery Brown with a 37 and Edward Higgins with a 38. 

The Royals edged Sussex Central 176-179 April 22 at Baywood Greens in Long Neck. Brown earned medalist honors with a round of 40. She was followed by Higgins and McQuay with a pair of 45s and Ashtin Reese with a 46. Centra was led by a trio of freshmen, as Jake Hollerback carded a 42, Trevor Clarke tallied a 44 and Joseph Neumann scored a 45. 

Delmarva Christian notched another win April 23, with a 170-184 win over Dover at Maple Dale Country Club in Dover. Brown took medalist honors for the second straight day recording a 36. She was followed by Higgins and McQuay with a pair of 43s and Daniel Genga and Joel Perry with a pair of 48s. Sawyer Shade led the Senators with a round of 41. 

The successful week improved the Royals’ record to 7-1-1.

Hammond and Ebersole continue shining in FlingGolf 

Britt Hammond and Austin Ebersole of American Classic Golf Club near Midway are adding to their fine records in the growing sport of FlingGolf. 

They recently returned from Jensen Beach Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla., where they both won their respective divisions in the Treasure Coast Open April 13-14. 

Hammond won the women’s title handily with a 10-stroke margin over second place. She birdied the last hole as an exclamation point. “Course management was key,” she said. “There were lots of places to lose your ball.”

Ebersole went into his last round with a lead that shrunk a bit but not enough to matter, as he won by two strokes.

The World League FlingGolf New Swarm Tour continues May 17-19 with a return to American Classic.

Hammond and Ebersole have also been named to the first-ever American squad for a Ryder Cup-like tournament against a team from Great Britain. The new event is set for June 8-9 at the Christchurch Golf Club near Bournemouth, England, and is sponsored by Guinness Beer. 

Like any other sport, FlingGolf both inspires and requires hydration.

Six men and two women will face off against each other, first using an individual match play format and ending with doubles alternate shot co-ed finals.

As for their chances in the tournament, Ebersole said, “The only Britt we like is ours.”