Malvern Prep dethrones Haverford School in the Inter-Ac

   I previewed today’s Bert Linton Inter-Ac League Tournament as a lead to a Fall Sports Notebook in Thursday’s Daily Times.

   I mentioned that Haverford School’s bid for a fourth straight Inter-Ac team title had been seriously jeopardized with a 2-3 showing in the fifth mini-tournament hosted by Penn Charter at Huntingdon Valley Country Club.

   Malvern Prep seized control of the team race with a 5-0 sweep at Huntingdon Valley and the Friars finished the job Wednesday with another 5-0 sweep, their fourth sweep out of the six mini-tournaments that make up the Inter-Ac’s regular season, in the final mini-tournament hosted by Springside Chestnut Hill Academy at Sunnybrook Golf Club.

   That gave Malvern Prep a 27-2-1 record with Haverford School finishing second at 23-7-0. Episcopal Academy finished third at 17-12-1.

   As I mentioned to reigning Daily Times Player of the Year Cole Berman on the eve of that final mini-tournament, this season’s results only serve to highlight how good last year’s Haverford School team was. To pull off a 30-0 sweep in a league with all the golf talent the Inter-Ac has is a monumental feat.

   The cream rose to the top in the final individual standings from the six mini-tournaments as Malvern Prep senior Michael Davis and Berman finished 1-2. Davis’ record against the rest of the league was 239-31-12 while Berman ended up at 235-29-18.

   Last summer Davis, a Newtown Square resident and Aronimink Golf Club menber, and Berman both qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur at the Martis Camp Club in Truckee, Calif. Berman qualified for match play before falling in the first round. It was Davis’ second trip to the U.S. Junior Amateur, although he failed to make the match-play bracket.

   Malvern’s Mike Szipszky, who claimed medalist honors at Sunnybrook with a 35, matched Berman’s win total at 235, but placed third at 235-34-13 in the individual standings. Malvern’s Brandon Bacskai, who led the individual standings heading into the final mini-tournament, struggled a little at Sunnybrook, but still finished a solid fourth in the final accounting at 229-43-10.

   With Davis, Szipszky and Bacskai finishing 1, 3, 4, respectively, it’s no surprise that Malvern Prep was able to wrest the Inter-Ac title away from Haverford School.

   Haverford School junior Jay Losty capped a solid fall campaign with a 38 at Sunnybrook and ended up fifth in the final points standings. Episcopal’s top three players, Joe Chambers, Jack Cassdiy and Trey Croney finished sixth, seventh and eighth, respectively. All three are juniors.