Kline, Sohosky the winners in Harry Hammond Invitational

   The Unionville golf team looks like it means business as it gears up for the defense of the PIAA Class AAA team title it won last fall.

   A couple of Indians, the red-hot Richard Kline III and William Bennink, both seniors, finished 1-2 in the Philadelphia Section PGA Junior Tour’s Harry Hammond Invitational at Penn Oaks Golf Club Tuesday.

   The Harry Hammond is a special stop on the Junior Tour for a couple of reasons. It is named for Hammond, who has done as much for junior golf as anybody anywhere. But it is hardly a memorial tournament because Hammond, a master professional, is very much active as the director of golf at Penn Oaks, which sits on the border of Chester County and Delaware County off Route 202.

   The Harry Hammond also couples golf and higher education. The participants, all high school juniors and seniors, get the opportunity to compete for college scholarship money. They will be invited to submit an essay on a subject that will be revealed later with the winners getting scholarships upon the start of their matriculation to a college or other avenue of higher education.

   Kline, coming off a spectacular performance in winning a Precision Pro Golf Open event at Makefield Highlands Golf Club last week, had three birdies in a 1-over-par 72 over the challenging 6,595-yard, par-71 Penn Oaks layout to edge his Unionville teammate Bennink by a shot.

   Bennink was the runnerup with a 2-over 73 that included a sizzling run of two birdies and an eagle from the third through the fifth holes. The college scholarship aspect of the Harry Hammond limited the divisions to just 16-to-18 divisions for boys and girls.

   Another Bennink, Connor, also a senior at Unionville, finished among a group of three players tied for fifth at 5-over 76. Not sure if the Benninks are twins, but I do know that Connor Bennink preceded Unionville’s team win in the state tournament at the Heritage Hills Golf Resort last fall by finishing tied for fifth in the individual tournament with a 4-over 146 total.

   William Mirams, who finished tied for second in the PIAA Class AA Championship as a junior at East Stroudsburg’s Notre Dame, finished tied for third in the Harry Hammond with a 3-over 74. Joining him at that figure was Tyler Wassell of Lancaster. Mirams also reached the final of the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s Junior Boys’ Championship at Blue Bell Country Club earlier this summer, falling to former Conestoga standout Ryan Tall in the title match.

   Joining Connor Bennink in the group tied for fifth at 76 were Charlie Baker, who helped The Haverford School claim the Inter-Ac League title last fall, and Finian McGarry of Haddonfield, N.J.

Rounding out the top 10 were three players – Hayden Greer of Moorestown, N.J., Christopher Skean of Kennett Square and Sebert Walker of Wilmington, Del. – who finished tied for eighth, each carding a 77.

   Morgan Sohosky, who finished fifth in the PIAA Class AA Championship as a junior at Bloomsburg last fall, topped the girls 16-to-18 division with a solid 6-over 77. Sohosky parred three of her last four holes.

   Christine Carroll of Bear, Del. was the runnerup with an 82 and Casey Oppenheimer of Conshohocken took third with an 83.

   Amanda Jones, who helped Episcopal Academy capture the Inter-Ac League title as a sophomore this spring, was third with an 87.

   Josie Genuardi of Kulpsville finished fifth with a 91, Addi Mann of Cherry Hill, N.J. was sixth with a 92, Jessie McClellan of Freeland was seventh with a 96 and Lily Byrne of Downingtown was eighth with a 99.