Hoban leads the way as Haverford School is back in tie for first place in Inter-Ac with a sweep at Merion West

 

   It is a veteran Haverford School team that is trying to repeat as the Inter-Ac League champion.

   J.P. Hoban is one of those veterans and in Wednesday’s Episcopal Academy Invitational at Merion Golf Club’s West Course it was Hoban who led the way with a sparkling 3-under-par 32 that helped the Fords earn a sweep that put them back in a tie for first place in the Inter-Ac standings with the host Churchmen.

   All five of Haverford School’s counters were at par or better as the Fords blitzed Merion West with a sizzling 167 total. The 5-0 day, the Fords’ second sweep in four Inter-Ac invitationals, left them with a 17-3 mark and in a tie with Episcopal Academy for first place.

   A couple of Haverford School’s underclassmen, junior Sean Curran and sophomore Quinn Gallagher, came up big for the Fords as well as each contributed a 2-under 33.

   Senior Gregor Weissenberger, the winner of last fall’s Bert Linton Invitational for the Inter-Ac’s individual championship at Aronimink Golf Club, was also under par as he added a 1-under 34.

   Harrison Brown, another of the Fords’ veteran seniors, matched par with a 35 to round out a really strong showing by The Haverford School.

   Episcopal Academy, led by a 1-under 34 from junior Parker Smith, played well, but the Churchmen’s 177 total left them 10 shots behind the sterling effort turned in by Haverford School.

   Sophomores Freddy Hartmann and Liam Crowley each matched par with a 35 to back up Smith.

   Junior co-captain Jimmy Warmkessel added a 1-over 36 and freshman Max Leung continued his solid run of play as he was the final counter for the Churchmen with a 2-over 37.

   It was seven more shots back to Malvern Prep in third place as the Friars, getting an even-par 35 from junior Davis Conaway, finished with a 184 total.

   Conaway won the Bert Linton as a freshman at Llanerch in 2022 and finished in a tie for third place behind Weissenberger in defense of his title last fall at Aronimink.

   The 4-2 day left Malvern Prep in third place in the Inter-Ac standings with a 14-6 mark.

   Sophomore Colby Komancheck backed up Conaway for Malvern Prep as he posted a solid 1-over 36 and junior Thomas Ploszay added a 2-over 37.

   Malvern Prep could take its pick for its final two counters out of a trio of 3-over 38s recorded by senior Michael Henry and senior co-captains Brody Bell and Mac Traynor.

   Henry was the runnerup to Weissenberger in the Bert Lington at Aronimink last fall.

   Penn Charter finished in fourth place in the Episcopal Academy Invitational at Merion West with a 195 total, Germantown Academy was another seven shots behind the Quakers in fifth with a 202 total and Springside Chestnut Hill Academy finished three shots behind the Patriots in sixth with a 205 total.

   Penn Charter remained in fourth place in the overall league standings at 8-12, Germantown Academy is in fifth with a 4-16 mark and Springside Chestnut Hill remained winless at 0-20 with two invitationals left to play.