The Viking golf team of Cape Henlopen High School finished its regular season schedule with a trio of non-conference victories, as they began preparations for the upcoming Conference and State Championships.

On Thursday, May 9, the team played Sussex Tech in the schools’ first competitive match at The Rookery Golf Course near Milton, winning handily 165-199.

Tyler Witman took medalist honors with his 37. Cape’s golf coach, Jerry Dorneman, noted that Witman’s one-over-par total included 21 putts. Witman agreed that his putting was off a bit.

"I hit every green in regulation, except for the two [par 5s] that I reached before regulation," he said. "I had one four-putt and 3 three-putts. It got so I was afraid to make a putt."

Witman said he later took a short putting lesson over the weekend and learned what he was doing wrong. "My alignment was off. My right shoulder was turned a bit out, and every putt felt wrong."

Shannon Prettyman scored her best round of the year against Tech with a 38. "I was on that day," she said.

Brad Schneider had a 44, and said, "I played pretty well getting to the greens, but I didn’t putt well."

Christina Wagamon’s 46 completed the team scoring for the win against the Ravens.

On May 14, the team traveled to Maple Dale Country Club for a tri-match against Caesar Rodney High School and St. Thomas More High School, the new Catholic prep school near Magnolia.

St. Thomas More’s record for the last two years was fairly abysmal, but this year’s squad has played very well. The young team has maintained a #10 state ranking overall, while Cape has remained in sixth place.

High gusty winds and a short sharp burst of rain put pressure on all three teams, and the scores showed it. Cape beat St. Thomas More 171-177, and beat Caesar Rodney 171-176.

Witman led everyone with his 36 on the back nine. "I had one bogey and one birdie," he said. "It was really gusty today. On my first drive, the wind actually shoved me on my downswing, and the ball went off to the side. I managed to get on the green and two-putt for par, though.

"On the [par-5] 12^th hole, I hit driver, then a 3-iron to about 15 feet, and three-putted for par. I birdied [the par-3] 16, and lipped out putts for birdie on 15 and 18. Overall, though, I putted much better than last week. That lesson helped a lot."

Wagamon said, "I feel like I had a lot of confidence today," and her 43 proved the point. "The par 3s were really tough. I was happy to make a 4 on them, with the way the conditions were," she said.

Brett Hertel’s 44 was third best among the Vikings that day. "I was one-over through my fourth hole, and then tripled my fifth hole [the twelfth]. I went O.B. on my drive—I had no idea the stakes came in so close on the left side. Then I chunked one, and wound up with the triple. I made several pars, though. I’ll take this 44 in the wind," he grinned.

Prettyman’s 48 finished the team scoring. All her teammates anxiously waited for her to return to the clubhouse with her scorecard, because Dorneman dangled a McDonalds’ incentive for winning the tri-match.

I hadn’t heard that many teenagers sigh with relief all at once in a long while.

Prettyman was pleased with her team’s victories, but not with how her round went. "I only had two pars, and finishing in the rain was no fun. I even had an 8 on a par 4. On that hole, my ball ended up against a stump, along the cartpath, in the sand, under a tree, and finally on the green, where I three-putted for the 8. Man!," she shook her head.

Don’t forget the DSGA Scholarship Event

Don’t forget the annual Delaware State Golf Scholarship Fund event on May 20 at Rehoboth Beach Country Club. Toyota-sponsored Senior PGA Tour star Dr. Gill Morgan will be there for a scramble with 18 amateurs. Sign up for the Birdie Challenge and pledge money for each birdie scored by the four teams in the event, which supports college scholarships for students from all over the Delmarva Peninsula.

For more information, contact Rehoboth Beach CC head professional Ron Barrows at 302-227-3616.

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