Cape’s cardiac kids capture vital victory

The chances for a winning season for the Cape Henlopen High School golf team looked as grim as the foggy weather during the May 6 match against the Dover Senators, which the Vikings lost by an annoying, single-stroke margin. That defeat brought the team’s record to 6-5, and was its third straight loss.

Nonetheless, there’s something to be said for the resilience of a young golf squad with a good attitude about their game.

The Vikings traveled May 9 to Cripple Creek Country Club in Ocean View and slid past Indian River by two strokes, 185-187.

Cape’s four best golfers for the day bettered their total against Dover by a whopping 22 strokes, a pretty amazing turnaround that assured the Vikings of another winning record for the year.

On an afternoon that Cape coach Claudio Smarrelli described as beautiful and sunny, the players were also forced to contend with a swarm of gnats. Smarrelli said the little critters were attacking everyone at the driving range. "You could not smile without the bugs getting between your teeth,” he said. Unfortunately, the pro shop had no bug spray.

Smarrelli said his team played well, especially considering that it was this group’s first time playing Cripple Creek. He considered the squad’s 185 score as a better indicator of their real talent, compared to some of the less-than-stellar outings they suffered through in the cold and wet season.

Mason Jones tied Indian River’s Dominic Costantino for medalist honors, as both golfers finished with six-over 42s.

Mike DeStasio improved on his recent scores with a nice little 44, good for second best for the Vikings and third best overall.

Tyler Reed shot a 48, and John Duckworth contributed with a 51 to finish the Vikings’ team score for the day.

The team’s last match was scheduled for May 15 at Rehoboth Beach Country Club against Woodbridge. They will then play the Henlopen Conference Championship tournament Monday, May 20.

It remains to be seen if the Vikings will qualify for the State Championship tournament May 28-29 on a team basis, or if any of the regular varsity players will be able to compete on an individual basis instead.

The Vikings will only lose two seniors. Reed will attend Delaware State University for a degree in fish and wildlife management, while Johnson will study engineering at the University of Delaware.

Smarrelli expects next year’s team to be strong and feature significant contributions from the female side of the squad. With so many other strong female athletes participating in other Cape High games, it’s about time the girls also showed up in numbers for one of the very few coed scholastic sports in Delaware.

And, as Christina Gooding recently said to Smarrelli, golf “is a game that I can play for the rest of my life.”

She has a point, of course.

After all, you don’t see many 65-year-old lacrosse players, do you?

Local club competition results

The Kings Creek Country Club 18 hole Ladies Golf League played a Baker’s Dozen format for the May 9 tournament.

Jeannine Doane took first place in the first flight, followed by Vicki Tull in second and Anita Pettitt in third.

In the second flight, Kathy Casey came in first, with Betsy Alwood taking second and Atom Irwin coming in third.

Faye Slatcher won the closest to the pin contest for the day, with a tee shot on the fifth hole coming to rest 16-feet-8-inches from the hole.

On May 13, the Kings Creek CC Ladies 9-hole group teed off at 9 a.m. for their Cross Country tournament.

Kathy Nave won the event, with Chris Sullivan finishing in second place and Judy Pezone taking third. Nave also won closest to the pin on the 16th hole. Her tee shot finished only 4-feet-3-inches from the hole.