Dunigan leads Unionville girls to PIAA Class AAA team crown; Unionville boys finish in a tie for second

    When Mary Dunigan was playing in the final group battling for the PIAA Class AAA championship a year ago, her Unionville teammates, who would compete in the team chase a day later, were following Dunigan every step of the way, cheering on their freshman teammate.

   That, I remember thinking, is a team.

   A year later, Unionville is the PIAA Class AAA team champion. Unionville, with Dunigan matching par with a 72 Monday at the Heritage Hills Golf Resort in Springettsberry Township, York County, posted a 16-over-par 232 total to finish six shots ahead of District Seven power Peters Township.

   It was quite a day for Unionville golf. The boys team finished in a tie for second in Class AAA, six shots behind team champion Cathedral Prep. It is the third time in four years that Unionville has finished in the top two in the state team competition, having claimed the PIAA Class AAA crown in 2017 and finishing second to Pittsburgh Central Catholic two years ago.

   Dunigan, the daughter of John Dunigan, a Golf Digest Top 50 teacher, failed to make it to the individual PIAA Class AAA Championship after finishing in fifth place a year ago. She might have been a casualty of the decision to scrap the East Regional, which left a very competitive District One field with just six individual spots in the state tournament.

   I’m sure she was disappointed, but she had helped Unionville capture the District One Class AAA team crown a day earlier at Raven’s Claw Golf Club and she responded to her disappointment the best way she possibly could Monday.

   Dunigan birdied four of the first 10 holes and had it to 3-under until she stumbled a little down the stretch with bogeys at the 15^th, 16^th and 17^th holes, but her 72 was a big spark for Unionville.

   Senior Charlotte Scully, coming off a really strong tie for fifth place in last week’s individual competition, backed up Dunigan with a solid 2-over 74. Senior Morgan Santaguida had the third counter in the five-score-three format with an 86.

   Sophomore Kaitlyn Ferrer, with an 88, and senior Molly Evanko, with a 99, were the throw-outs for Unionville. It was the same lineup that finished fifth in Unionville’s first state team appearance a year ago.

   Evanko had delivered a crucial 87 that was Unionville’s third counter when it won the District One Class AAA crown, defeating Ches-Mont League rival Downingtown East and Mount St. Joseph, which saw its run of seven straight district team titles snapped.

   Peters Township was the runnerup with a 22-over 238 total. McDowell took third place at 251, Cumberland Valley was another 10 shots behind McDowell in fourth at 261 and Scranton Prep placed fifth with a 298 total.

   On the boys side, Cathedral Prep, getting a 1-under 70 from senior Zach Henry and an even-par 71 from sophomore Breckin Taylor, carded a 13-over 297 to finish five shots clear of District One champion Unionville and District 11 champion Liberty.

   Cathedral Prep also got a pair of 78s from senior Evan Rowane and freshman Mac Dettrick in the five-score-four format. Junior Phil Pedano’s 83 was a throw-out for Cathedral Prep.

   Unionville, which shared second place with Liberty at 18-over 302, was led by a 1-under 70 from sophomore Win Thomas. It was an eight-shot improvement for Thomas from the 78 he posted in his debut in the PIAA Class AAA individual competition a week ago.

   Senior Roy Anderson backed up Thomas with a 4-over 76. Anderson finished in a tie for 14^th place in last week’s individual competition with a 2-over 74.

   Freshman Danny Donnelly added a 76 and senior Ross Charlton was Unionville’s final counter with an 80. Junior Stephen Starnes had an 83 that Unionville was able to toss.

   Franklin Regional finished in fourth place, three shots behind Unionville and Liberty, with a 305 total. Abington Heights took fifth place at 321 and Wilson was sixth with a 327 total.

   The Scranton Prep boys claimed the Class AA team title with a 300 total behind a 1-over 72 from junior Mike Sewack. Scranton Prep finished seven shots ahead of runnerup Sewickley Academy, which posted a 307 total.

   It was a balanced effort for Scranton Prep which posted four sub-80 scores. Junior Michael Lynch registered a 3-over 74, Senior Matt Tressler added a 76 and junior Thomas Lynch was the final counter with a 78. An 84 by junior Ben Galko was tossed by Scranton Prep.

   North East, led by PIAA Class AA individual champion Isaiah Swan’s even-par 71, took third place with a 323 total, 16 shots behind Sewickley Academy.

   In his final appearance at Heritage Hills, senior Ryan McCabe led Devon Prep, the District 12 champion, to a fourth-place finish with a 325 total. McCabe had finished in a tie for second place in the individual standings two years ago and was tied for third a year ago, but failed to qualify in the individual competition this year.

   But McCabe, a Media resident and a product of the junior program at The Springhaven Club, carded a solid 6-over 77 to lead the way for Devon Prep Monday. Junior Graham White backed up McCabe with an 81.

   Freshman Nick Ciocca, who finished in a tie for 18^th place in his debut in the Class AA individual field last week, added an 83 for Devon Prep. Senior Coleman Miller was Devon Prep’s final counter with an 84. Junior Tyler Kenneson was just a shot behind Miller with an 85, but Devon Prep was able to toss his score.

   Boiling Springs finished fifth with a 336 total, 11 shots behind Devon Prep. West Shamokin took sixth place, a shot behind Boiling Springs at 227.

   Team Swan was prominent in leading the North East girls to the Class AA team title with a 25-over 241 total.

   Junior Lydia Swan, who has never finished worse than third in three appearances in the PIAA Class AA individual competition, including a state title a year ago, fired a spectacular 3-under 69 to lead the way for North East Monday.

   I’\m guessing freshman Anna Swan is Lydia’s little sister, but regardless Anna Swan backed up Lydia Swan with a 4-over 76. Senior Taylor Urban was North East’s final counter with a 96. North East tossed the 105 posted by Elise Sebolt.

   Defending champion Greensburg Central Catholic settled for silver this year, its 247 total leaving it six shots behind North East. Elk Lake took third place at 265 and Westmont Hilltop was fourth with a 307 total.