Haverford School edges Radnor by a shot in early-season showdown

   I’ve been casting around a little for some early high school golf news and I got some while waiting to caddy in a practice round for the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship at a steamy North Course at Stonewall Thursday (hoping to have some practice round thoughts on the blog after a stroll around the Old Course Friday).

   The EMS crew from Riddle Memorial Hospital that was on duty at Stonewall had a Daily Times laying around with news of an interesting nonleague match Wednesday between reigning PIAA Class AAA team champion Radnor and perennial Inter-Ac League power Haverford School at Gulph Mills Golf Club, one of the Fords’ home courses.

   Didn’t get a look at the full summary, but Haverford School eked out a 183-184 victory, getting a 1-under 34 from Mac Costin and an even-par 35 from Peter Garno.

   Pretty sure Costin is the son of Haverford School coach Gui Costin. I do know that Mac Costin was hard at work on the Philadelphia Section PGA Junior Tour all summer preparing for the fall scholastic season. And Max Siegfried assured me last fall that Garno, who I’m pretty sure is just a sophomore, would be a leader for the Fords this season and nothing leads better than an even-par round.

   The medalist for the day, though, was Radnor senior Michael Sydnes with a 2-under 33. Sydnes, a key player in the Raiders’ run to the PIAA team title a year ago, has also worked very hard this summer and played a lot of tournament golf.

   Sophomore David Colleran, who captured the Golf Association of Philadelphia Junior Boys’ title this summer, and Conor Rinehart each had a 37 and Chris Austen carded a 38. Jake Calamaro and Daniel Bullock each had a 39 with one of those getting thrown out as only the top five scores counted. As the Daily Times roundup noted, had the teams gone to six players, they would have tied at 223 apiece.

   Springfield coach Jim Heller shipped me some early Central League results and it looks like Radnor and Harriton are the only undefeated teams, both at 3-0. Harriton, however, had to battle to pull out a 204-207 victory over a Haverford program, resurgent under Nate Oxman, on the Rams’ home course of Philadelphia Country Club. It was the first Central League loss for the Fords.