TOWNSEND – Sussex Academy held its annual athletic awards banquet on Wednesday night.
Earlier in the day, the Seahawks’ golf team went back to Georgetown transporting what was certain to be the most prized possession.
The school’s first DIAA championship trophy.
Sussex Academy held off Tatnall on Wednesday in the DIAA Golf Tournament, winning by six shots at Odessa National Golf Club.
The format was tweaked this season to replace an overall individual winner with girls and boys individual champions. The Seahawks’ Hannah Lydic defeated teammate Sawyer Brockstedt on the second hole of a playoff to win the girls title, and Tatnall’s Matt Homer scored a five-stroke win for the boys crown.
The Sussex Academy team title was keyed by three girls, as Sarah Lydic – Hannah’s sister and last year’s overall champ – finished fourth individually at 1-under-par 143, one stroke behind Tower Hill’s Avery McCrery and two behind Hannah Lydic and Brockstedt.
“Golf isn’t that popular of a sport, and for that to be the No. 1 sport at SAS and to get a state championship, it means everything,” Sarah Lydic said. “I feel like golf will be a little bit more popular, more people will want to come play.”
The team format counted the low four scores in the first round and the low three scores in the second round. Dominic Piperno’s first-round 81 counted for the Seahawks on Tuesday, and Hannah Lydic (69-72), Brockstedt (73-68) and Sarah Lydic (71-72) all broke par to give Sussex Academy a two-day score of 2-over-par 506.
With the team title assured, the Seahawk teammates were a little more relaxed going into their playoff.
“It was so much fun,” Hannah Lydic said. “It’s me and her, like it’s me and my sister. Or it’s me and her in practice. It’s a dogfight, but it’s a good thing. You want to be in those positions.”
“It was really nerve-wracking, but I was just happy to be there,” Brockstedt said. “I love playing against Hannah, so it was a really great time. I’m just happy we could make it this far as a team.”
Homer trailed Red Lion Christian’s Evan Barbin by one stroke after an opening-round 72. Then the Tatnall junior unleashed a career-low 66 Wednesday to win easily.
“Mainly, the putter,” Homer said of the key to success. “I did a good job keeping the ball in play and I had a lot of good looks, but I just made a lot putts. It was a good feeling.”
Barbin finished second among boys, followed by Homer’s brother Jeff, Archmere’s Drew Clark and Homer’s cousin, Anthony Ciconte.
“I was working hard all spring,” Matt Homer said. “I left a lot out there in the matches, but I was able to get the putter going the last couple of weeks heading into the tournament. It just kind of exploded. It was great.”
Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ
