Cape golf team preps for 2024 season

A talented squad of veterans fills 10 of the 12 spots on the 2024 Cape Henlopen golf team.

Among the returning varsity players, juniors Tyler Healy and Travers Johnson finished both rounds at the 2023 states tournament, helping Cape reach ninth place after several years when the Vikings failed to qualify for or finish the team competition. Fellow juniors Jacob Gabbard and Dalen Daminger along with sophomore Kingston Davis also competed in last year’s state finals.

Other returning varsity players include Edward Ghabour, Chad Hughey, Bret Miller and Brendan Staggs.

Gabby Hamstead joins the team from Mariner Middle School as the lone ninth-grader on the squad. She is an active golfer with junior tournament experience. Senior Luke McCarthy also played well enough during tryouts to make the team for his first varsity golf season.

Last season, head coach Robert Harrod was named Henlopen Conference Golf Coach of the Year as well as state Co-Coach of the Year by the Delaware Interscholastic Golf Coaches Association.

“This honestly is the best group of kids that I’ve been around,” he said. “I’m very excited to move forward into the season with them. I see a lot of positive energy, a lot of team energy, a lot of congratulating, just stuff that we’ve been working to build around here. And now it seems to be second nature with them.”

As for his hopes for the coming season, Harrod said, “[We have] big goals. I don’t want to drill in on anything, but we’re a better team right now than we were at the end of last season. I really feel that. I feel like we’re around a special group of kids right now, and so I see really big things happening. We have [Sussex Academy] right out of the gate, and we have to win the very first match, and that’s what we’re focused on.”

Bill Geppert, Cape’s longtime swim team coach, returns as the lead assistant golf coach. Fellow Cape teacher Tanya Humes joined the coaching staff for her first season with the Vikings. Lisa Hutchins, Reed Jones and yours truly are once again volunteering their coaching support.

The tryout process for 2024 included rounds at American Classic Golf Club, The Rookery and the Vikings’ home course at Rehoboth Beach Country Club. Harrod expressed deep appreciation to the three clubs and the entire Cape Region golf community for its continued support for scholastic golf, including the in-season hosting by Midway Par 3.

The Vikings will make the short hop to Kings Creek Country Club Monday, March 18, for the first match of the season against Sussex Academy.

Since I began this column in 1999, Cape has finished as high as fourth in the state championships one time, in 2000. Tyler Witman is the only Cape player to win the individual title, doing it twice, in 2001 and 2003. Since then, the chase for a high finish has only become harder for all-access public high schools competing against private and charter schools.

Nonetheless, the Vikings’ talent and spirit show real promise for another fine season.

Golf fitness workshop March 21

Bayside Fitness will hold a golf workshop with PGA Professional Jesse Williams at 11 a.m., Thursday, March 21, at its studio at 34814 Long Neck Road. The free hour-long event includes workouts to promote stability, strength, balance, control and speed.

Reservations are required. Call 302-231-8982 for information and to claim a spot.

Sunrise Rotary Club tournament

The Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club will hold its 15th annual charity golf tournament Monday, June 24, at The Peninsula Golf & Country Club in Millsboro. The field for the scramble format event is limited to 120 golfers and usually sells out quickly.

Early birds registering by Monday, April 15, can earn a $25 discount from the $250 entry fee, which covers the golf, a boxed lunch, dinner at the Peninsula clubhouse and more.

Tournament proceeds support youth, adults and veterans in the greater Long Neck community along with other Rotary Club initiatives.

Sponsorships are also available. For more information, go to www.longnecksunriserotaryclub.com/golf or contact Sharon Marshall at 267-374-6488.

Bayhealth tournament 

The 39th annual Bayhealth Foundation Dover Motor Speedway Golf Tournament is scheduled for Thursday, April 25, at Wild Quail Golf & Country Club in Camden-Wyoming, coinciding with the NASCAR race in Dover.

The net proceeds for the scramble format event benefit patients of the Bayhealth Cancer Institute, specifically to provide treatments and services for cancer patients, including the institute’s survivorship program.

Under the program, nurse navigators guide patients through each step after the initial diagnosis through better health.

Golf player sponsorships begin at $650, covering two golfers and an on-course sign. Most sponsorships include the entry fee for a foursome in addition to recognition at the post-round ceremonies. The fees also cover the round of golf, practice range, cart, lunch, heavy hors d’oeuvres and awards.

During the round, players can also compete for holes in one, closest to the pin, longest drive and more. 

To become a sponsor or participate, contact foundation@bayhealth.org. To learn more about the event and other initiatives, go to bayhealth.org/foundation.