Six seniors win again for Cape
May 15, 2026
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.
(l-r) George Becker, Erichson McMahon, Kingston Davis, Ryan McNett, Chad Hughey, and Cameron Hartstein
I do not recall any prior Senior Day matches where the Cape contingent included six seniors.
Chad Hughey won medalist with his 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 first-ever 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 8 and 9 and chipped in for par on 5. I had no triple bogeys. I don’t know how I did that.”
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 3-under par 33 on the RBCC front nine to earn his fourth medal in 2026. “I drove the green on [the par 4] Number 2. I had a chip onto the green on 7. Into the wind on 8 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 May 19 at Plantation Lakes Golf & Country Club in Millsboro.
Sussex Academy wins Henlopen South; Sussex Central wins HAC North on tiebreaker
The Sussex Academy Seahawks finished their regular season match schedule May 14 with a tri-match against Lake Forest and Woodbridge at Heritage Shores GC in Bridgeville. Nonetheless, the charter school’s record won the Henlopen South Division title for 2026.
The Golden Knights won the North title under Conference tiebreaker rules.
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 South winner 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 in favor of the Golden Knights.
The Seahawks face Sussex Central in the North/South HAC match May 15 at Baywood Greens.
Royals finish season with some promise
The Delmarva Christian Royals hosted its Senior Day May 7 tri-match against St. Marks of Wilmington and Indian River High at Baywood Greens. The Royals lost to IR 182-188 and to the Spartans 162-188.
Joshua Mohn of St. Mark’s won medalist with a one-under par 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 both posted 42s, with Nick Gipko’s 46 completing the team score.
Royals head 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. We posted our lowest team score of the season and our lowest team score in the past two years,” he said. “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
Dottie Pope
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 6-hybrid on the 104-yard par 3 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.