Collegiate golf is a year-round sport with fall and spring tournaments. The players’ challenge is to maintain a balance between their studies and competing at a high level.
The Delaware State University women’s golf team handled those tasks very well recently, compiling fine team scholastic and competitive records.
Hornets head coach Rick McCall Jr. discussed GPAs and other good news in a recent interview.
The Hornets finished the 2022-23 academic year with a combined 3.70 grade point average, their highest yet and best of all Delaware State teams.
Their golf performances have also improved. They finished second in the Northeast Conference championship this May in their first year in the conference. Ana Ferreyra-Heit earned all-NEC first-team honors with the conference’s second-best scoring average.
In addition, the team won the 2023 NEC Spring Team Sportsmanship Award for women's golf, which recognized the team’s commitment to sportsmanship and athletic success. “That was really cool,” McCall said.
As noted here in May, the Hornets also finished second in the PGA Works Team Championship in Alabama. McCall said the DSU squad has earned its national reputation as one of the best HBCU women’s golf programs.
Recognition leads to more opportunities. In mid-October, the team will travel to North Carolina for the SAS Championship HBCU Invitational, coordinating with the PGA Tour Champions SAS Championship held at the same time and location. The Hornets will compete against Howard, North Carolina Central, Prairie View A&M, Alabama State, Bethune-Cookman and North Carolina A&T.
McCall’s new recruits for 2023-24 include three first-year players: Chloe Malgis Kelpin (South Africa), Jade Scott (Fla.) and Waverly Harper (Texas). Another recruit, Taylor Harvey, is using her continued eligibility as a DSU graduate student, coming from Prairie View A&M.
They join veterans Carolyn Garland (Colo.), Julie Gauvin (Canada), Claudia Hofmeister (Fla.), Emily Murray (Ireland), Nimah Narinesingh-Smith (Pa.), Amber Pennington (N.Y.), Madison Smith (Ill.) and Estelle Verny (Thailand).
The Hornets first travel to Lewisburg, Pa., Saturday, Sept. 9, for the Bucknell Invitational. Then they host the Hornet Invitational at Kings Creek Country Club Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 18 and 19. After the SAS event, DSU returns to the Cape Region for the University of Delaware’s Blue Hen Invitational at Rehoboth Beach Country Club Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 21 and 22.
US Kids Golf World Championships
Good luck to four Cape Region juniors traveling to Pinehurst, N.C., for the US Kids Golf World Championships, running through Saturday, Aug. 5. About 2,000 youngsters from 50 countries will compete in several age categories from 5 to 12 on 10 different courses.
Grace and Lucas Skonieczki (Rehoboth Beach), Brody Rollins (Milton) and Ellie Walls (Millsboro) represent the local contingent.
Delaware’s US Kids fall competition season begins Sunday, Aug. 27, at Wild Quail. For more information, go to tournaments.uskidsgolf.com/tournaments/local-tours/registration-information.
DJGS Fund scholarships
The Delaware Junior Golf Scholarship Fund recently awarded five high school graduates the first of four years of scholarship stipends.
The fund has supported more than 170 students with over $1.5 million, beginning in 1988. The Delaware State Golf Association assisted the fund with publicity and linkage at the DSGA website for the application process. That arrangement continued since the merger of the DSGA with the Golf Association of Philadelphia.
Matt Homer won the top award for 2023, worth $8,000 per year and $32,000 total. The Tatnall School graduate will attend the University of Delaware.
His twin brother Jeff, who played alongside brothers and cousins on the Tatnall golf team, won the second award, worth $7,000 per year ($28,000 total). He will also attend the University of Delaware.
Ellisyn Arthur won the third award, worth $5,000 per year ($20,000 total). The Dover High graduate will attend Boston College.
Harrison Humes won the fourth award, worth $3,000 per year ($12,000 total). The Worcester Prep School graduate will attend Virginia Tech.
Ethan Mercer, former captain of Cape Henlopen’s golf team, won the final award, worth $2,000 per year ($8,000 total). He will attend James Madison University.
The DJGS Fund’s primary source of revenue is its golf tournament, scheduled this year for Aug. 28 at Rehoboth Beach Country Club. Playing spots are sold out, but sponsorships and online auction items remain available (event.gives/dejuniors2023/items). For information about 2024 scholarships, contact fund President Jerry Medd at dejuniorgolfscholarship@gmail.com.
Local club competition results
The Mulligan’s Pointe Ladies 18-Hole group played a Low Gross/Low Net game Aug. 1.
Maxine Ansbach won first gross in the first division, with Brenda Lewis in second and Wendy Michaelson in third.
Susan Gatcomb won first gross for the second division, followed by Kathy Hudak in second and Carmela Boyle in third.
Valerie Grib won first place net in the first division, with Joann Foster in second and Peggy Clausen in third.
Jackie Adams won first net for the second division, followed by M. L. York in second and Pam Pichola in third.
The Kings Creek CC Ladies 9-Hole group played a Shamble game Aug. 1, won by Diane Herndon, Carol Loewen, Ann Bailey and Donna Romer.
Chris Piasecki, Juanita Wilson, Jen Walker and blind draw Hope Lavachia took second. Marie Murray, Kathy Andrus, Margaret Connors and Margaret Rebarchik finished third.
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Fritz Schranck has been writing about the Cape Region's golf community since 1999. Snippets, stories and anecdotes from his columns are included in his new book, "Hole By Hole: Golf Stories from Delaware's Cape Region and Beyond," which is available at the Cape Gazette offices, Browseabout Books in Rehoboth Beach, Biblion Books in Lewes, and local golf courses. His columns and book reviews are available at HoleByHole.com.
Contact Fritz by emailing fschranck@holebyhole.com.
