Episcopal Academy, Malvern Prep share first at Huntingdon Valley to make it a race in Inter-Ac

   Just when it looked like The Haverford School might run away with a third straight Inter-Ac League championship, the Fords’ two top rivals, Malvern Prep and Episcopal Academy, got back in the race.

   Behind a 1-over-par 36 from Episcopal Academy’s Jacob Zeng, a senior co-captain, and a 2-over 37 by Malvern Prep’s Ryan Kennedy, the Friars’ senior leader, the teams shared first place in the Penn Charter Invitational Tuesday at Huntingdon Valley Country Club’s par-35 Centennial Course, each posting a 193 total.

   Haverford School finished third with a 200 total, which enabled the Fords to remain atop the league standings with a 13-2 mark halfway through the six invitationals that decide the league title.

   Host Penn Charter, behind junior Patrick Isztwan, who shared medalist honors for the day with Episcopal Academy’s Zeng with a 1-over 36 on Isztwan’s home course, finished fourth with a 211 total, Germantown Academy was fifth at 216 and Springside Chestnut Hill Academy was sixth at 220.

   Backing up Zeng for the Churchmen was a trio of juniors, Augie Reilly and Shane Lawler, each with a 37, and Giles Elliott with a 41. The final counter for Episcopal Academy was eighth-grader Jack Yearly with a 42.

   Backing up Kennedy for Malvern Prep were Henry Fish, who posted a 38, Jack Fialko and Keller Mulhern, both of whom signed for a 39, and Patrick Traynor with a 40.

   The tie for first left Episcopal Academy and Malvern Prep in a tie for second in the Inter-Ac standings at 11-3-1. Germantown Academy is fourth with a 4-11 mark, Springside Chestnut Hill Academy is fifth at 3-12 and Penn Charter is sixth at 2-13.

   Senior Charlie Baker led the way for Haverford School with a 3-over 38. Junior Jake Maddaloni added a 39. Tyler Zimmer chipped in with a 40 and Michael Bozzi signed for a 41. The final counter for the Fords was a 42, a figure posted by both Bowen Deng and Ed Trumphour.

   Isztwan, who captured the Bert Linton Inter-Ac Championship as a freshman two years ago, rose to the top of the individual Inter-Ac standings compiled from the results of the six regular-season invitationals. It is a title that Isztwan’s older brother Brian, a sophomore at Harvard, won in his final two seasons at Penn Charter in 2016 and 2017.

   Haverford School’s Maddaloni and Zimmer are in second and third place, respectively, in the individual standings. Episcopal Academy’s Zeng, who finished atop the individual standings a year ago, moved up to 11^th place with his co-medalist performance Tuesday after a slow start to his senior season.