Cape golf team finishes regular season with a flourish

The Cape Henlopen High School golf team completed its regular season May 14 with a bit of style.

The Vikings defeated Padua Academy 165-224 and Hodgson Vo-Tech 165-249 May 14 at Rehoboth Beach Country Club to finish 11-6 for the year.

Tyler Healy, Dalen Daminger and Chad Hughey tied for co-medalist honors with 40s, a first for the Vikings. Their 40s were also season lows for Daminger and Hughey. Brendan Staggs posted a season-best 45 for the final Cape score.

The 165 total was also the fourth-best team result for the season, three strokes above the 162s Cape posted at RBCC, Mulligan’s Pointe and Maple Dale.

Head coach Rob Harrod said, “We played well. It was a good day. Both those schools bring really nice kids, and our team enjoyed playing with them. To finish solidly and get three 40s as co-medalists, I thought that was really good. Overall, I’m really pleased.”

Local high school results 

The Sussex Academy golf team wrapped up the regular season with a narrow 168-171 win over Sussex Central May 9 at Mulligan’s Pointe in Georgetown. Jake Hollerback of Central earned medalist honors with a round of 39. Austin Dostal led the way for the Seahawks with a 40. He was followed by Dominic Piperno’s 42 and a pair of 43s from Quentin Bowman and McKenna Danahy. Sussex Academy finishes the regular season at 13-3.

Delmarva Christian completed its regular season with a pair of wins in a May 9 tri-meet against Lake Forest and Caravel Academy at Baywood Greens in Long Neck. The Royals defeated Lake 157-188 and Caravel 157-241. Lance McQuay earned medalist honors with a round of 37. He was followed by Avery Brown with a 38 and a pair of 41s from Edward Higgins and Joel Perry. The Royals earned the top four scores of the day. Delmarva Christian finishes the regular season with a record of 12-3.

Successful May 1 soft opening for Southern Delaware Golf Club

Soft openings give businesses a chance to gain valuable experience with how the moving parts are coming together, as well as work on some kinks.

Sometimes even a soft opening needs more time, however, which is why Southern Delaware Golf Club opened its course for public play May 1 instead of its planned April 15 starting date.

“Mother Nature did not allow us to do that. It backed up everything,” said Bill Kupfer, the club’s director of agronomy.

“From Jan. 1 to April 12, we had 30 inches of rain. Our average rainfall is 40 inches for the year. But from April 13 until a few days ago, we had a tenth of an inch and then zero rain. Then 92-degree temperatures, humidity was low, wind was up, the turf struggled. We couldn’t put enough hand watering and hoses out there on top of trying not to disturb the course opening,” Kupfer said.

He continued, “We tried our hardest those first few days to allow people to just enjoy it without us being out there, but it was impossible. The safety of the course had to come first.”

The May 1 opening finally came, and the place was booked up with hundreds of golfers, Kupfer said. Rainy weekend weather May 4-5 literally put a damper on playing, but Kupfer said rounds since then have been solid.

“The comments from customers have all been positive,” he said. “Everyone loves the changes. [We had] lots of positives from guys who were members when it was Shawnee [Country Club] or Rookery North.”

Kupfer said he was still bothered by weeds in parts of the rough, but added, “The greens roll true, and that’s all I can ask for right now.”

Several other projects remain to be completed. The putting green near the pro shop will be rebuilt. The range will eventually feature enclosed hitting bays with enhanced services. SDGC is also completing design work on a new 19th hole adjacent to the 5th and 6th fairways. The extra hole will permit taking other holes out of play during major work such as cart path and irrigation pipe replacements.

Work continues toward the eventual opening of the Big Oyster brewpub, a massive renovation of the old clubhouse. I toured the facility as contractors worked on several indoor elements, including the kitchen, a beautiful bar and an indoor golf simulator.

SDGC’s very first fundraiser tournament is already set. The inaugural Harry K Foundation Golf Classic fundraiser will take place Monday, June 10. Individual playing spaces are available for $150, with the foursome fee set at $600. Mulligans and a 50-50 ball drop option can be bought to boost team scoring. Several sponsorship opportunities also remain open. For more information, go to HarryKFoundation.org or call 302-226-0675.

For more information about SDGC, go to SouthernDelawareGolfClub.com, call 302-491-7933, or email southerndelawaregolfclub@gmail.com. Tee times can be booked through the club’s website.

Local club competition results

The Kings Creek CC Ladies 9-Hole and Dual League group played a Team Net Stableford game May 14.

Kathleen Nilles, Joanne Yurik, Francie Young and Nathalie McGregor won the first flight. Marjorie Adis, Deb Grant, Joan Repetto and Linda Delario took second. Linda Outlaw, Vicki St. Germaine, Mary Lou Kupfer and Juanita Wilson finished third.

Yona Zucker, Pam Cranston, Chris Piasecki and Deb Hinderer won the second flight. Nancy Derrickson, Sandy Neverett, Deb Chase and Brenda Schilli finished second. Chris Emery, Sherry Shaffer, Stephanie Roash and Ellan Hylton came in third.

The Mulligan’s Pointe Ladies 18-Hole league played a Two Better Balls of Four game May 14. Terese Kane, Bonnie Quesenberry, Kay Monack and a blind draw won first place. Tammy Findlay, Debbie Quinn, Joann Foster and another blind draw took second.

The Kings Creek CC Ladies 18-Hole league played a Baker's Dozen game May 9.

Kathleen Nilles won first-place gross in the first flight, with Katie Heintz winning first gross in the second flight.

Sally McGovern won first net in the first flight, with Gale DiBona in second and Donna Deely in third. Anne Farley won first net in the second flight. Melissa Soper took second and Maggie Whall finished third.