Lydic wins Henlopen Conference title

Sarah Lydic of Indian River High School fired a three-under 68 to win her last Henlopen Conference championship title at Kings Creek Country Club May 20.

This fall, the senior standout, a 2021 state championship winner, will join the women’s golf team at Wake Forest University, winners of the 2023 NCAA Division I championship.

The Caesar Rodney High School Riders easily won the team title with a fine 304 combined score. The order of finish for the rest was as follows: Polytech, Sussex Academy, Delmar, Cape Henlopen, Milford, Sussex Central, Dover, Lake Forest, Sussex Tech, Indian River, Smyrna, Woodbridge and Laurel.

State championship

Lydic led all golfers in the DIAA scholastic handicap rankings for 2024, earning her spot on the first tee for the state championship to be held May 28-29 at Maple Dale Country Club in Dover. 

This year, golfers from 31 schools qualified for the tournament, including players from Cape, Delmar, Delmarva Christian, IR, Milford, Sussex Academy, Sussex Central and Sussex Tech.

There are three championship categories – girls, boys and team. Twelve girls and 84 boys are in the combined field of 96 players. 

Cape, Delmarva Christian, and 10 schools in Kent and New Castle counties begin the team competition Tuesday, requiring between four and six golfers among the qualifiers. At least three teammates must make the cut (low 60 and ties) after the first round to earn team honors. 

Folds of Honor

Cape Region clubs have supported Folds of Honor for many years. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity supplies scholarship funds to spouses and children of military members as well as civilian first responders who died or were disabled while in service. 

The organization’s Patriot Golf Days previously took place during Labor Day weekend and raised millions of dollars.

More recently, Folds of Honor switched its primary fundraising efforts to Memorial Day weekend, although its work continues year-round.

At Baywood Greens, for example, the club asks golfers to donate $1 per player at the first hole. Director of Golf Anthony Hollerback said the Memorial Day weekend collection usually raises $750 to $1,000 annually.

These and other efforts add up. Since 2007, Folds of Honor awarded 51,000 educational scholarships worth more than $240 million. With careful stewardship, the organization kept administrative costs low, with 91% of all money raised going toward scholarships. Last year’s outlay supported 8,400 scholarship recipients.

At the 2024 PGA Show, I had a pleasant conversation with Sara Bush, senior director of golf relations. She introduced me to World Golf and LPGA Hall of Famer Nancy Lopez, the newest board member of Folds of Honor.

“I’m proud to be on the board,” Lopez said. “There’s just such a good feeling about what it does.” Her husband served in the military, and she participated in several Folds of Honor events in years past. 

Lopez teared up as she recalled meeting some of the families whose loved ones died serving the rest of us. “We need to help them be the legacy of the person they lost,” she said. “I thank them for their sacrifice.”

Bush is a former golf pro who played collegiately at Mercer University in Georgia. She discussed the Memorial Day weekend events as well as another successful initiative, the Folds of Honor HERO100 Golf Marathons. Golfers participating in the marathons obtain per-hole or per-event pledges from friends and family, using donation pages and other help from Folds of Honor to make the day a success. 

The charity expects to hold about 700 events in 2024. If past efforts are any indication, they could raise more than $23 million from all fundraisers. 

If you see Folds of Honor signs at your local golf club, consider being part of golf’s ongoing support for this well-deserving organization.

Local club competition results

Fifty-two golfers played the Kings Creek CC Ladies 9-Holers One Better Net Ball of Foursome game May 21.

Kelly Brown, Kara Bourdreau, Deb Qualey and Maureen Gutenstein won first place in the first flight. Tish Brey, Kathleen Andrus, Jeannine Doane and Sherry Schaffer took second.

Angela Strano, Deb Chase, Stephanie Roash and Donna Romer finished first in the second flight. Sandy Neverett, Catherine Larrabee, Pam Cranston and Jennifer Walker finished second.

The Mulligan’s Pointe Ladies played a Low Gross/Low Net game May 21. 

Karen Feuchtenberger won first-place gross in Division 1, followed by Peggy Claussen in second and Kathy Hudak in third. M. L. York won first-place net, with Joann Foster in second and Jackie Chenutta in third.

Deb Manelski won first-place gross in Division 2, with Kay Momack in second and Jackie Adams in third. Bonnie Quesenberry won first-place net, with Donna Dolce in second and Susan Shockley in third.

The Kings Creek CC 18-Hole Ladies League played a Team Net Stableford game May 16.

Donna Deely, Melissa Soper, Maggie Whall and blind draw Ruth Lauver won first place. Lesley Corydon, Ruthann Santry, Robbie Monkman and blind draw Darci Whitehead finished second.