Behind an even-par 35 from sophomore Sean Curran at Merion Golf Club’s West Course, The Haverford School put itself firmly in first place in the Inter-Ac League standings by sweeping the Episcopal Academy Invitational Wednesday, the second time the Fords have bested the field in the four mini-tournaments contested.
Curran helped Haverford School put together a 186 total that was three shots clear of host Episcopal Academy.
Curran was backed up by fellow sophomore Liam McFadden, who carded a solid 1-over 36. Juniors Harrison Brown and J.P. Hoban chipped in as each posted a 2-over 37 and senior John Rouse came through with the final counter for the Fords, a critical 3-over 38.
The 5-0 day gave Haverford School, seeking its first Inter-Ac crown since 2019, a 17-2-1 mark. Episcopal Academy’s runnerup finish at Merion’s West Course left the Churchmen in second place with a 15-5 record.
Reigning Inter-Ac champion Malvern Prep struggled to a fourth-place finish with a 192 total that dropped the Friars just behind Episcopal in third place in the standings with a 14-5-1 slate. Malvern Prep had edged Haverford School by a shot to claim the top spot in last week’s Springside Chestnut Hill Academy Invitational at Sunnybrook Golf Club.
Germantown Academy, behind a strong showing from senior standout Ajeet Bagga, finished a shot ahead of Malvern Prep in third place at Merion’s West Course with a 191 total. The Patriots are in fourth place in the overall standings with a 9-11 record.
Episcopal was led by the day’s individual medalist as senior tri-captain Hunter Stetson solved the West to the tune of a 2-under 33. Stetson, coming off a successful summer, highlighted by a run to the round of 16 in the U.S. Junior Amateur at The Daniel Island Club’s Ralston Creek Course in Charleston, S.C., vaulted into the lead in the Inter-Ac’s regular-season individual points race.
Stetson’s second individual medalist honor in four invitationals gave him 359 points. His closest pursuer, Malvern Prep sophomore Davis Conaway, struggled to a 5-over 40 that left him with 326 points.
Stetson and Conaway are the last two winners of the Bert Linton Inter-Ac individual championship, Stetson capturing the title two years ago at Bluestone Country Club and Conaway prevailing a year ago at Llanerch Country Club. Looks like Stetson will be playing on his home course at Aronimink Golf Club when the Bert Linton is contested later this month.
Episcopal Academy also got a strong showing from senior Jack Crowley, who finished in red figures at Merion West with a 1-under 34.
Freshman Liam Crowley delivered a 3-over 38 for the Churchmen, sophomore James Warmkessel tallied a 40, and Jack Logan, another of Episcopal’s senior tri-captains, accounted for the final EA counter with a 41.
Bagga had started slowly this fall, but was more like himself with a 1-under 34 at Merion’s West Course. Bagga captured the Inter-Ac’s regular-season individual points crown a year ago and was the runnerup to Conaway in the Bert Linton at Llanerch.
Juniors Michael Henry and Eamon Cochran led the way for Malvern Prep as each recorded a 2-over 37. Freshman Colby Komancheck added a 39, Conaway checked in with his 40 and junior Brody Bell was the final counter for the Friars with a 41.
Penn Charter finished in fifth place at Merion West with a 199 total that left the Quakers in fifth in the overall standings at 4-16.
Springside Chestnut Hill ended up in sixth place with a 211 and remained winless through four Inter-Ac invitationals with an 0-20 mark.
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