Balanced lineup helps Cape May Tech golfers succeed

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

It’s been a season to remember for the Cape May Tech golf team.

The Hawks have posted a record of 13-3 so far this season and will participate in Tuesday’s South-Central Group I sectional tournament, which is scheduled to be played at Heron Glen Golf Course in Ringoes.

Cape May Tech has posted its strong season due to its remarkable balance. There may not be one superstar, but there are several good golfers.

Late last week, for example, all six players in the varsity lineup, plus one junior varsity player, broke 50 in a 175-197 win over Lower Cape May.

Juniors Scotty Whitshire and Chris Porto have taken turns serving as the team’s No. 1 golfer. Another junior, Zach Johnson, is close behind. Juniors Ruby Redmond and Joe Schuck and sophomores David Wurtz and Alyssa Hicks have also been consistent scorers.

“Chris and Scotty have led us the whole way but we have a lot of other kids consistently shooting in the 40s and that’s why we are winning matches and competing,” said Tech coach Jeff Sobrinski, now in his 17th season.

Sobrinski said a one-point loss to Cedar Creek early in the season served as a turning point of sorts.

“We had a little pow-wow after that match about how much one stroke makes a difference,” he said. “Then we played a tough Lower Cape May team at their place and we came out on top. That kind of led to a pretty good run for us.”

Last week, Cape Tech posted a 170-181 win over Middle Township, its first win over its county rival in more than a decade.

“There’s a lot of parity in our league,” Sobrinski said. “Sometimes there’s a dominant team or two but this year a lot of teams are able to knock each other off.”

Sobrinski credited the leadership of senior captains Matt Rutherford, Gage Hicks, Dominic Krajicek as being crucial to the team’s success.

“I thought we had the potential to be very competitive in our conference,” Sobrinski said. “We have three or four juniors who were pretty much beginning players when they came here but they’ve gone and gotten jobs at golf courses or went and got junior memberships and they’ve taken it to another level.”

Cape May Tech’s players have been extremely coachable, Sobrinski said.

“Certainly it helps when you have a group of kids who are really into it,” he said. “From the best player down to the beginning player, they all listen and want to get better, which is unique. Sometimes with a lot of good players they’re getting lessons from pros and you can’t really coach them. These kids are very receptive.”