Cape to face Polytech in unprecedented Henlopen Conference North playoff
May 16, 2025
The Polytech Panthers’ May 8 loss to the Delmar Wildcats of Henlopen South caused a bit of a stir in the Henlopen Conference.
Poly’s second HAC conference defeat created a tie with Cape Henlopen for the best conference records among North Division teams.
Cape defeated Poly April 8 at Wild Quail but lost to North rivals Caesar Rodney April 3 and Dover May 5.
Sussex Academy also secured its South Division title May 8.
A North/South match between Division winners determines the Conference Champion. However, HAC Golf Bylaws do not explicitly state how Division champions are determined when two teams are tied.
A special HAC committee met May 9 and developed a solution. Henlopen Conference Executive Director Bob Cilento said, “There will be a playoff match between Polytech and Cape to determine the winner of the North Division. This was due to some confusion on how our conference division champions are decided. The match will take place at Rehoboth CC on Friday, May 16 at 4:00 p.m.”
A coin toss determined the playoff location.
Conference officials also committed to adding bylaw provisions to deal with this contingency in future seasons.
Cape/DCA and DCA/Sussex Central – two games at the same time
The Vikings took a short trip to Baywood Greens May 14 to play a nonconference match against Delmarva Christian Academy. The match coincided with a nonconference contest between DCA against Sussex Central.
Cape defeated DCA 164-189. Central also won against the Royals 170-189.
In a rare combination, four Vikings tied with 41s for Cape’s victory: Kingston Davis, Jacob Gabbard, Jack Tunnell, and Gabby Hamstead.
DCA’s Avery Brown won medalist honors in both matches with his 40. Sussex Central’s Jake Hollerbeck tied Brown in the Central/DCA contest with his 40. Central’s other scorers included Joseph Neumann and Ryan Orth (41s) and Trevor Clarke (48).
The other Royal scorers included Joel Perry (43), Cole Parker (48), and Connor Wall (58).
L-R: Joe Skelly, Jacob Gabbard, Brendan Staggs, Tyler Healy, Eddie Ghabour, Logan Gamuciello, Dalen Daminger, and Travers Johnson
Senior Day win
Cape played a non-conference Senior Day match against Middletown May 12 at Rehoboth Beach CC, winning 168-170.
The Cavaliers’ Aidan Quintana and Landon Wolfe earned co-medalist honors with their 3-over par 39s. Tyler Healy and Travers Johnson led the Vikings with a pair of 40s. Daminger, Gabbard, and Brendan Staggs tied for third and fourth best for Cape with 44s.
Sussex Academy wins HAC South title
Sussex Academy swept a tri-meet May 8 at Maple Dale, defeating Dover 158-179 and Lake Forest 158-193.
The victory earned the Seahawks’ Henlopen Conference South title with one match date remaining. It also helped smooth ruffled feathers from SAS’s May 5 and 7 losses to Salesianum School, Cape Henlopen, and Sussex Central.
SAS senior Austin Dostal won medalist honors with his 37. The other Seahawk scorers included Quentin Bowman (38), Ryan Dostal (41), and Jordan Green (42).
Academy head coach Doug Grove said, “I thought our guys showed what they were made of in a nice bounce-back effort against Dover. I have a lot of confidence in them and was very proud of them. Austin and Quentin both played well.”
Other DCA results
The Royals swept a tri-meet May 12 at Baywood Greens, defeating Sanford School 175-177 and Odessa High 175-184. Brown won medalist honors with his 39 on the front nine. Perry was second for the Royals with his 41. McCoy’s 46 was her best score of the season. Nicholas Gipko and Parker tied for the fourth best Royals’ score with a pair of 49s.
DCA split another tri-meet May 7 at Baywood Greens. Led by medalist Brown’s 35, the team defeated Wilmington’s Ursuline Academy 177-243 but lost to Dover 175-177. The other Royals who posted qualifying scores included Perry (37), McCoy (51), and Parker (54).
DCA hosted Appoquinimink High May 5 on Baywood’s front nine and lost 175-191. Brown earned medalist again with his 39. The other DCA scorers included Perry (42), Gipko (55), and McCoy (55).
Local club competition results
The Kings Creek CC Ladies 9-Holers played a Bakers Dozen game May 8.
Marie Murray won the first flight gross. The other gross flight winners included Sandy Singer (2), Polly Donaldson, (3), and Juanita Wilson (4).
Darci Whitehead won the net category for the first flight, followed by Sandy Neverett in second and Lisa Travis in third.
Susan Julbe won the second flight net, with Rosemarie Schmidt next and Judy Rayner taking third.
Pamela Cranston won the third flight net, followed by Hope Lavachia in second and Louise Montgomery in third.
Kaye Allison won the fourth flight net, with Farah Engler in second and Patricia Novak in third.
The Kings Creek CC Ladies 18-Holers also played the same game May 8.
Lynn Sweeney won the gross category in the first flight. The other gross flight winners included Jean Chlastawa (2) and Katie Heintz (3).
Ann Barry won first net in the first flight, with Gale DiBona in second and Judy Wetzel in third. Gail Bender won first net in the second flight, followed by Cynthia Robinson in second and Kim Parks in third.
Ruth Lauver won first net in the third flight, with Anne Farley in second and Leslie Ledogar in third.