Malvern Prep finally gets the best of Haverford School

   After a perfect run through the Inter-Ac League’s six mini-tournaments a year ago, it seemed unlikely that The Haverford School would be able to repeat that feat in such a competitive golf circuit.

   And it couldn’t. Malvern Prep finally got the best of the Fords as Germantown Academy played the host Monday at Blue Bell Country Club and the Friars, led by the day’s overall medalist, junior Brendan Bacskai, edged Haverford School 228-230.

   Bacskai fired a 34 to lead the field at Blue Bell. Mike Szipszky added a 37, Kevin McGreary and Jeff St. Armour added 38s, Mike Davis, a two-time U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier and Aronimink Golf Club member, added a 39 and Mike Lammond had a 42 for the Friars.

   Not that Haverford School played badly. Reigning Daily Times Player of the Year Cole Berman led the way with a 36 and he was backed up by a quartet of 38s posted by Jake Van Arkle, Jay Losty, Otis Baker and Ryan Bowman and a 42 by Max Siegfried.

   Episcopal Academy, which shared second place with Malvern Prep, three shots back of the Fords, when the Churchmen hosted the league at Merion West last week, had another strong showing at Blue Bell. Episcopal’s 232 total was just two shots back of Haverford School in third place.

   The Churchmen were led by Jack Cassidy, who had a 36. Trey Croney and Joe Chambers added 37s, Scott McConnell had a 39, Andrew Jannetta had a 41 and Cole Testaiuti had a 42 to round out the scoring for Episcopal Academy.

Billings and Billings repeat

   Somehow managed to miss in last week’s post a nice Golf Association of Philadelphia repeat victory for the Billings family in the Father & Son (Older) Tournament, which was held Sept. 9 at Lancaster Country Club.

   Robert Billings, a veteran at Rolling Green Golf Club, and son Rob, who is a Philadelphia Publinks Golf Association member, teamed up for a 2-over 72 over the 6,327-yard, par-70 Lancaster Country Club layout to successfully defend the title they won a year ago in a three-hole playoff at Whitford   Country Club.

   This time they edged King and Tyler Knox of the host club by a shot.

   “I’ve been playing well,” Robert Billings, a 63-year-old Newtown Square resident, told the GAP website. “My son has a young family now, so he doesn’t get to play that often, but he still strikes the ball solidly. I was hoping that we could put up a good showing.”

   Jesse Daniels of Aronimink Golf Club and dad Gary of Applebrook Golf Club finished 10^th with a 79. Brian and Joe Culley of The Springhaven Club and Peter and James Coleman of Rolling Green each had an 81, the Rolling Green pair of Craig and Robert Aronchick had an 86, Bradley Impriano of Edgmont Country Club and dad Jack of Applebrook had an 87, the Rolling Green pair of David and Daron Harden had an 89, and Jack McCormick of Stone Harbor Golf Club and dad John of Paxon Hollow Country Club had a 91.

   John Convery of The Golf Course at Glen Mills teamed with dad John of Northampton Valley Country Club to take the title in the Super-Senior division with a  3-over 73.