Cape Region golfers sweep DWGA Amateurs

Diane Herndon and Judy Wetzel turned in a pair of fine performances at the Delaware Women’s Golf Association Senior and Super Senior Amateur Championship at Back Creek Golf Club June 25-26.

Herndon, a member of Kings Creek Country Club, won the Senior division. Wetzel, also a Kings Creek member, won the Super Senior division.

Sue Bardsley of The Rookery also finished in second place in the second flight.

Brockstedt wins in Pinehurst

Sawyer Brockstedt of Rehoboth Beach earned a six-stroke victory in the 11-year-old girls’ category June 30-July 1 at the Red White & Blue Invitational on the Pinehurst No. 6 course.

The tournament is a regional tune-up for the U.S. Kids Golf World Championships, to be held later this month. Brockstedt defeated juniors from 13 states and Colombia in perhaps her biggest win to date.

Cape Region golfers compete in Delaware Amateur

Peter Barron of Mays Landing, N.J., dominated the competition with his June 25-27 victory in the 2018 Delaware Amateur. The three-day, four-round competition took place at Odessa National Golf Club. Barron shot 12 under to overwhelm the rest of the field.

Several Cape Region golfers participated. Jay Whitby, a member of Rehoboth Beach Country Club, finished in third place, 14 strokes back. Blake Micholas of Kings Creek CC tied for seventh place, and Jakob Keidel of Bear Trap Dunes GC tied for 11th.

Ed Brown of Rehoboth Beach CC came in 14th, and Michael Pyne of Hooper’s Landing GC finished in 29th place. Tanner Leonard of Bear Trap Dunes GC finished in 34th place, with Nick Shevland of Cripple Creek CC coming in 36th.

John Walsh of Bear Trap Dunes, Christopher Vonhof of Mulligan’s Pointe, and Nolan Brown of Rehoboth Beach CC missed the cut.

Use what you have to

During the opening round of the 2018 ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer, I watched how Ayako Uehara played her short-hitting game against much longer-hitting competition.

The 5-foot-1-inch Japanese LPGA veteran kept pace with the others in her threesome using a variety of fairway woods and hybrids. She ranks 108th in driving distance at just under 250 yards, so maintaining her skill with the other longer clubs in her bag is simply what she has to do to stay on tour.

Uehara is also ranked 21st in driving accuracy, hitting nearly 80 percent of the fairways, which helps offset her distance disadvantage. However, she’s still pretty good when she misses the fairway.

On the 492-yard par 5 third hole, she drove into deep right rough, about 240 yards out. Uehara slashed a 7-wood through the thick stuff to the center of the fairway 100 yards from the hole. Her approach from there landed 15 feet past the hole, and she two-putted for par.

We met later that afternoon after her even par round for the day and discussed what she keeps in her bag. It’s a different mix from many other LPGA golfers.

Uehara relies on a Ping driver and three fairway woods in 3-, 5-, and 7-wood sizes. She also uses three hybrids, set at 23, 27, and 31 degrees. Her 7-iron is the lowest-lofted iron in her bag.

The clubs in Uehara’s bag present a good example that your equipment choices should be tailored to what you need to perform. Your local golf professional can help you figure out the best mix of clubs for your game.

Cripple Creek Golf & Country Club celebrates improvements

Cripple Creek G&CC held a ceremony June 15 to celebrate the opening of a new practice facility and a completely new ninth hole.

In a press release, CC Board President Frank Vallese said, “A few years ago, the board of directors working closely with the Cripple Creek staff developed a five-year strategy on membership, facilities and our beloved golf course. Since that time, we have increased membership, updated our clubhouse and improved our golf course. This incredible practice facility being this year’s addition.”

For more information, go to cripplecreekgolf.org or call 302-539-1446.

Local club competition results

The Mulligans Pointe Ladies golf group played an individual net pars or better game July 3.

Maxine Ansbach won first place, with Brenda Lewis in second and Kathy Hudak in third.

The Kings Creek Ladies 9-Hole league played an individual Odds Out game June 27, where only the scores on the odd-numbered holes counted toward the total.

Tina Brown won the first flight, with Jeanne Drake in second, Patty Davis in third, and Linda Miniscalco in fourth.

Kara Bourdreau won the second flight, with Susan Epstein in second, Sue Eisenbrey in third, and Mary Mezger in fourth. Joelle Genevish won closest to the pin on the fourth hole.