A first for Penn Charter as Inter-Ac race tightens

   After years of domination by either Haverford School or Malvern Prep, the Inter-Ac League golf race this fall is very much up for grabs.

   Penn Charter, led by a pair of sparkling 2-under-par 33s by junior Brian Isztwan and senior Joey Centeno in a mini-tournament hosted by the Quakers at Huntingdon Valley Country Club’s Centennial Course Tuesday, swept the field with a 224 total.

  In the sixth season of the mini-tournament format, first utilized when the Inter-Ac switched from playing in the spring to playing in the fall, it was the first outright tournament win for Penn Charter. Episcopal Academy was just a shot back at 225 in a strong showing by the Churchmen and the perennial Inter-Ac powers, Haverford School and Malvern Prep, finished third and fourth with respective totals of 230 and 237.

   Penn Charter had the home-course advantage as the host, but Huntingdon Valley is also the home course for Isztwan, who captured the Inter-Ac’s individual title as a freshman two years ago.

   The Quakers also got a 38 from junior Noah Schwartz, who lost in a playoff in the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s Jock MacKenzie Memorial this summer. Four Penn Charter players – juniors Archie Filshill and Blake Target, sophomore Dylan Topaz, and eighth-grader Patrick Isztwan – all came in at 40. Only the top six scores count, so one of the 40s was thrown out, but when you win by a shot, every shot counts.

   Episcopal was led by junior Jon Perry, who had an even-par 35. Senior Matt Marino added a 36, sophomore Michael Zeng had a 37, freshman Jacob Zeng had a 39, junior Ashton Dunn had a 39 and junior Cole Kemmerer had a 40.

   Haverford School, which had topped the field in the first mini-tournament hosted by Malvern Prep Friday at Waynesborough Country Club, was led by Davis Rosato and Cal Buonocore, both of whom came in at even-par 35. Sophomore Peter Garno added a 39, Mac Costin and Sam Walker both checked in at 40 and Fred Hammer had a 41.

   Reigning Inter-Ac champion Malvern Prep was led by sophomore John Updike, the reigning Pennsylvania Junior Boys champion who carded a 1-over 36. Sophomore Andrew Curran added a 38, junior Matt Davis had a 39, Gavin Sims had a 40, Eric McLaughlin had a 41 and Nick Miller had a 43.

   Haverford School retains the league lead at 8-2 with Penn Charter and Episcopal tied for second at 7-3 and Malvern Prep in third at 6-4. It is a very tight race and with all the talented young players sprinkled throughout the league, things will change from mini-tournament to mini-tournament.

   A mini-tournament scheduled to be hosted by Springside Chestnut Hill Academy at Sunnybrook Golf Club Monday was postponed.