The Cape Henlopen High School golf team held its Senior Day tri-match May 11 against Delmarva Christian and Woodbridge. The Vikings won again, 164-171 over the Royals and 164-238 over the Blue Raiders, on the front nine at Rehoboth Beach Country Club.

I do not recall any prior Senior Day matches where the Cape contingent included six seniors.

Chad Hughey won medalist with a 39, his second medal win this season. Kingston Davis and Ryan McNett tied for second with a pair of 40s.  Erichson McMahon posted a 45 in his very first varsity match to complete the total. Cameron Hartstein and George Becker also played for Cape.

Hughey’s six pars and three bogeys created what he called a steady round. “Lots of greens in regulation and two putts,” he said.

McMahon struggled with consistent play this season but enjoyed this day.

“I parred eight and nine and chipped in for par on five. I had no triple bogeys. I don’t know how I did that," he said.

The Vikings hosted Delmar’s Wildcats and Smyrna’s Eagles at RBCC May 13, as small craft advisory-level winds blew in hard from Rehoboth Bay. Cape won both matches, 157-178 against Delmar and 157-211 against Smyrna.

Despite the big breezes, Davis fired a three-under par 33 on the RBCC front nine to earn his fourth medal in 2026.

“I drove the green on [the par four] No. 2. I had a chip onto the green on seven. Into the wind on eight, I hit a flyer from 130 yards out that spun back 12 feet to a few inches from the hole. Really high shot,” he said. 

Tunnell and McNett tied for second among the Vikings with a pair of 40s. Gabby Hamstead, Cooper Forcucci and Hughey tied for fourth score with 44s.

Cape’s last regular-season match was a May 14 trip to Maple Dale CC to face the Dover Senators. The Henlopen Conference Championship 18-hole all-team tournament takes place Tuesday, May 19, at Plantation Lakes Golf & Country Club in Millsboro.

Sussex Academy faces Sussex Central in the North-South championship match Friday, May 15, at Baywood Greens. 

Sussex Central won Henlopen North on a tiebreaker. Cape, Caesar Rodney and Central each had only one loss in the North, after CR beat Central May 13. Caesar Rodney’s April 23 loss to Sussex Academy dropped them from the North three-way tie because Central and Cape beat every South team they played. Central’s 156-157 defeat of Cape April 16 broke the remaining tie.

Sussex Academy finished its regular-season schedule May 14 with a tri-match against Lake Forest and Woodbridge (after the Cape Gazette's deadline) at Heritage Shores GC in Bridgeville. No matter how they fared, the Seahawks' record was good enought to win the Henlopen South Division title for 2026. 

Royals finish promise

Delmarva Christian hosted its Senior Day match May 7, welcoming Saint Mark's and Indian River High at Baywood Greens. The Royals lost to IR 182-188 and to the Spartans 162-188.

Joshua Mohn of Saint Mark’s won medalist with a one-under 35 on the front nine. Ellie Walls played best for Indian River with her 41.

Avery McCoy led Delmarva Christian with her 42, followed by Donovan Balback’s 45. Elvis Millaway’s 49 and senior Cole Parker’s 52 completed the Royals’ scoring.

The May 11 tri-match against Cape and Woodbridge completed the Royals’ regular season with a 4-11 record. Parker posted a 41, the best round of his four years with Delmarva Christian. McCoy and Balback each posted 42s, with Nick Gipko’s 46 completing the team score.

Royals coach Ray Davis had nice things to say about his team.

“Our final match of the season was a great way to close things out," he said. "We posted our lowest team score of the season and our lowest team score in the past two years. I’m incredibly proud of the season this team had. Out of our 12 players, nine competed in varsity matches this year, and every member of the team contributed in some way. Beyond the scores, what stood out most was the character of this group. They competed with integrity, encouraged one another through every practice and match, and truly enjoyed being together as a team. It was a great joy for me to lead this group.”

As of this column’s deadline, McCoy and Balback appear to have played well enough to make the final field of 96 golfers playing in the DIAA State Championships, to be held at Baywood Greens May 28-29.

Pope makes ace

Congratulations to Dottie Pope of Rehoboth Beach for her hole in one, made May 6 during a windy golf league round at The Rookery. She used her six-hybrid on the 104-yard par three ninth hole. 

Local club competition results

The Mulligan’s Pointe Ladies played a 2 Better Balls of 4 game May 12. 

Carmela Boyle, Donna Dolce, Valerie Grib and Jeanette Pashigan won first place. Jackie Chernuta, Eileen Jenkins, Rita McConnell and M.L. York finished second.