DelCampo’s first hole-in-one only 55 years in the making

If you’re going to have a hole in one, you might as well make it as memorable as possible.

Nick DelCampo did just that during the recent Kings Creek Country Club member-guest tournament, with his first ace in 55 years of playing golf.

A longtime coach of the Cape Henlopen High School girls’ volleyball team, and a part owner of Sports at the Beach, DelCampo was also a member of the UD golf team, back in the Jurassic era.

DelCampo said he and playing partner Brian Crooks were one down with two to go against Mike Berger and Ron Holiday when they came to the 151-yard, par-3 eighth hole, where a closest-to-the-pin contest was also being held.

“Holiday’s ball hit a rise on the right side of the green and kicked dead left to 2.5 feet from the pin,” DelCampo noted, making him and his partner feel a little desperate.

DelCampo then hit his 7-iron, which he could tell was on line, but under the overcast conditions he had a hard time seeing the ball as it approached the green. However, Kings Creek assistant pro Erica Bensch happened to be watching from the nearby cart path area, as his ball ticked the pin and dove into the hole.

“On the closest to the pin sheet, I just wrote down 0 inches,” DelCampo said, and he called his wife Cindy with the good news. After being convinced he was telling the truth, she texted their kids. Meanwhile, Bensch radioed back to the clubhouse with the news.

DelCampo’s luck continued, because he had invested $5 in hole-in-one insurance for the season. Most of the tournament golfers waited until after the tournament’s open bar closed that afternoon to draw down upon DelCampo’s policy limits.

The KCCC insurance payoff also came with a $250 credit in the pro shop, a beautiful wooden display case with the lucky ball, a raised metal insignia of the club and an engraved plate with all the details.

As DelCampo said, “Not a bad deal for $5.”

But when asked how he and Crooks finished in the tournament standings, DelCampo said they were awarded a participation certificate.

I blame the self-esteem movement.

More awards for Vikings golfers

At the end-of-season banquet for the 2014 Cape Henlopen High School golf team, head coach Claudio Smarrelli handed out some well-deserved awards.

Mathew Zehner earned the Sportsmanship Award, while Jack Ashby gained Most Improved Undergraduate Golfer recognition. Mason Jones was recognized as the team’s MVP, and the Top Female Golfer award went to Maddie Baptiste. Captain Michael DeStasio was honored for his leadership of the Vikings squad.

Cape golfers Ryan Carey, Erin Coverdale, Karli Crispin and Megan Paparo also made the Henlopen Academic All-Conference list.

Smarrelli said, “This is one group of youngsters that coaches dream of having, no matter what sport.”

Local club competition results

The Rehoboth Beach Country Club 18 Hole Ladies held a one-day member-guest tournament June 18 using a team format.

In Flight A net, Elise Coar, June Allen, Karen Storms, and Berne Reid combined for first place. Kathy Curry, Joey Hertrich, Sheila Halfpenny and Margherite McDermott won Flight B net.

First overall gross honors went to the team of Robbie Robinson, Stef Herndon, Bailey Scheurer, and Pressie Hoffman. Scheurer also won the long drive contest for Flight A. Carol Simon won the long drive competition for Flight B.

There were three closest to the pin winners. Connie Cooper won for Flight A, Carol Smith won for Flight B, and Gayle Truitt won on the 19th hole.

The Kings Creek Country Club Ladies 18 hole Golf League played Criers on June 19. Trish Ritthaler took first place in the first flight, followed by Marsha McLaurin in second and Linda Outlaw in third.

In the second flight, Joanne Pearlman won first place, with Barb Hines taking second and Sherry Pié in third.

Leslie Ledogar won the third flight, while Rosanne Smith finished second and Brenda Butterfield came in third.

Julie Dickson won the closest to the pin contest on the 11th hole, at 22-feet-11-inches.

The Sussex Pines 18-Holers played their Member/Member tournament June 24. Sandy Harrison and Hazel Pusey took first place, while Brenda Lewis and Susan Shockley came in second. Carol Love and Dee Prillaman took the third spot.