Pellegrini wraps up her career at The Citadel

   Erica Pellegrini, a two-time Garnet Valley All-Delco, closed out her career at The Citadel at last week’s Southern Conference Tournament at the Moss Creek Golf Club’s North Course at Hilton Head, S.C.

   Pellegrini had rounds of 80, 84 and 88 for a 252 total that left her in a tie for 32^nd. The final round was played in cold, windy conditions.

   After decent totals of 327 and 324 in the first two rounds, the Bulldogs struggled to a final-round 347 in the tough conditions and finished ninth in the nine-team field at 998. But it was the first time since 2003 that The Citadel posted lower than 1,000 at the conference tournament.

   The Bulldogs were led by sophomore Eraina Manor, who had rounds of 82, 77 and 86 for a 245 total that left her in a tie for 26^th. Junior Kellie Anderson had the Bulldogs’ best final round with an 83 that gave her a 54-hole total of 246 and left her alone in 28^th place.

   Led by individual medalist Emily McLennan (73-75-74—222), Tennessee Chattanooga won its fifth straight SoCon team title with rounds of 312, 295 and 308 for a 915 total.

   Pellegrini, a two-time PIAA medalist, was The Citadel’s leading lady at last month’s Low Country Intercollegiate, played at Moss Creek Golf Club’s South Course. Pellegrini opened with an 80, but fell back in the second round with a 90 for a 170 total that left her in a tie for 33^rd.  She led the Bulldogs to a 10^th-place finish at 696.

   In The Citadel’s final regular-season tournament, Pellegrini had rounds of 87 and 85 for a 172 total that left her in a tie for 56^th at the Mimosa Hills Intercollegiate. Manor had a pair of 83s to finish in a tie for 41^st and lead the Bulldogs to an 11^th-place finish at 688. 

Svigals takes second at F&M Spring Invitational

   The Daily Times reported on the Cabrini, Widener and Eastern end of things at last week’s F&M Spring Invitational, but the Diplomats have a trio of Delco players, one of whom nearly won the individual title.

   Former Episcopal Academy standout Bobby Svigals, a junior at F&M, shared the top spot with Cabrini’s Dan Gentilucci, each carding 1-under 70s at Bent Creek Golf Club. Gentilucci won individual honors on a match of cards.

   Svigals, however, led the F&M Blue team to the team title with a 291 total, four shots better than Cabrini.

   F&M’s White team, meanwhile, finished in a tie for fifth at 310. The White team was led by Lucas Ludgate, whose 76 left him in a tie for 15^th. Another shot back in a tie for 19^th was Henry Richards. Yet another shot back in a tie for 28^th was Radnor All-Delco Jin Hwang. A senior, Hwang is the F&M captain. He was also the captain of the F&M men’s swim team.

   Also competing as an individual for the host Diplomats was freshman Jared Brown, a former Strath Haven standout. Brown posted an 84 to finish in a tie for 58^th.

Fahey solid at Princeton Invitational

   Former Episcopal Academy standout Sean Fahey continues to have a solid freshman season at Dartmouth.

   Fahey, a U.S. Amateur qualifier last summer, had rounds of 72, 76 and 74 at Springdale Golf Club for a 222 total that left him in a tie for 38^th in the Princeton Invitational.

   The Big Green were led by another freshman, Jeffrey Lang, who had rounds of 69, 70 and 67 for a 7-under 206 total that landed him in a tie for second place just a shot back of Individual winner Akash Mirchandani of Harvard. Mirchandani had rounds of 67, 66 and 72 for an 8-under 205 total.   Another Harvard player, Robert Deng (67-69-70) shared second with Lang.

   Dartmouth also got strong showings from sophomore Dylan Rusk (69-73-72—214, tied for 14th), junior Charlie Edler (70-69-78—217, tied for 21^st), sophomore Charles Cai (82-76-73—231, tied for 67^th) and senior Joe Maziar (74-80-74—228, tied for 60^th), who was competing as an individual.

   It added up to a third-place finish in the team standings for Dartmouth, as it posted rounds of 280, 288 and 286 for an 854 total. Harvard, led by Mirchandani and Deng, took the team title with rounds of 271, 277 and 284 for an 832 total. Yale (378-284-273—835) was three shots back in second 19 shots clear of Dartmouth.

   Temple sophomore Brandon Matthews, who won the William Hyndman III Award that goes to the Golf Association of Philadelphia Player of the Year in 2013, had rounds of 72, 66 and 71 to finish in a tie for fourth at 4-under 209. He led Temple (294-285-290) to seventh in the team standings at 869.

   Host Princeton (289-291-293) finished ninth at 873. The Tigers were led by Lower Merion product and 2009 PIAA runnerup Greg Jarmas, a senior who finished 12^th with rounds of 70, 66 and 76 for a 1-under 212 total.

   Former Haverford School standout Nelson Hargrove, a senior at Brown, had rounds of 73, 72 and 75 for a 220 total that left him in a tie for 30^th.

Villanova headed for Big East tourney

   There was a small mention of Villanova’s sixth-place finish at the FDU Invitational Monday at Crystal Springs Golf Club in Hamburg, N.J. in a college roundup in the Daily Times, but it’s worth expanding on a little.

   Senior Robbie Meador was fifth in the Individual chase, his best finish of the 2013-14 campaign, with rounds of 74 and 78 for a 152 total. He led the Wildcats to team scores of 320 and 314 for a 634 total. The top five in the team standings were champion Binghamton (00-312—612), host Fairleigh Dickinson (302-316—618), Central Connecticut (317-308—625), Towson (316-310—626) and Saint Peter’s (318-313—631).

   Villanova’s other scorers included sophomore Luke Waggoner (80-77—157, tied for 13^th), freshman Lucas Trim (83-78—162, tied for 26^th), freshman Peter Madich (83-81—164, tied for 36^th) and junior Scott Miller (94-82—176, tied for 65^th).

   Junior Ted Brennan, a former Haverford School standout, remains out of the lineup. He hasn’t teed it up for Villanova since completing the first round of the Wildcat Invitational at White Manor Country Club.

   Always a highlight of Villanova’s season, the Wildcats finish up at the Big East Tournament, which gets under way next Sunday (April 27) at the Callawassie Island Golf Course in Okatie, S.C.

Caprian Kan finishes first at Galen Hall

   It would be completely unfair to compare Chichester freshman Caprian Kan with her big sister, Purdue junior and 2010 PIAA champion Aurora.

   But Caprian Kan, who had a solid freshman campaign last fall, is slowly, but surely turning into a nice  player. There was further evidence of that Saturday as the Philadelphia PGA Junior Tour stopped at Galen Hall Golf Club, an A.W. Tillinghast design in western Berks County.

   Kan fired a 79 on a Galen Hall layout that measures 5,464 yards and has a par of 72 for the girls to take first place in the 13-to-15 division. Kan played 2-under par golf for a stretch of nine holes to edge Esther Park of Wilmington, Del. by a shot. Breaking 80 on a nearly 5,500-yard course is pretty good playing.

   Another up-and-comer on the local scene – who, by the way, is also the younger sibling to a recent PIAA girls champion – Jacob Calamaro of Newtown Square had a strong showing in the 13-to-15 division with an 80 at Galen Hall.

   That left Calamaro, one of the younger competitors in the field, a shot back of Nicholas Gianelos of West Chester, who took the division with a 79.

   Calamaro is the younger brother of Jackie Calamaro, who won the 2009 PIAA title as a senior at Radnor and is redshirt junior on the Illinois women’s team.

   Also in the 13-to-15 division, D.J. Colleran of Radnor finished in a tie for 15^th with an 89 and Daniel Bullock of Wayne finished in a tie for 21^st with a 94.

   Among the nine-holers, Jackson Fields of Glen Mills finished third with a 51 and Aidan Lowe of Villanova finished eighth with a 73.

Another strong showing for Delaware's Terzian

   Episcopal Academy product Amanda Terzian has really stepped up her game during her junior season at Delaware.

   Last week Terzian had rounds of 78, 73 and 78 over the 6,131-yard, par-72 River Course at the River Landing Golf Course in Wallace, N.C. for a 229 total that enabled her to finish in a tie for seventh at the UNCW Seahawk Classic. It was the third top-10 finish that Terzian, a Haverford resident, has recorded for the Blue Hens during the 2013-14 campaign.

   Freshman Vitoria Teixeira was Delaware’s low finisher with rounds of 76, 73 and 77 for a 226 total that left her alone in fifth place. Lori Beth Adams of host North Carolina Wilmington claimed individual honors with rounds of 74, 71 and 72 for a 1-over 217 total that was four shots clear of the field.

   The solid play by Terzian and Teixeira enabled Delaware to finish third in the team chase. The Blue Hens had rounds of 301, 306 and 311 for a 918 total. Elon (297-306-304) took the team title at 907, eight shots better than host UNCW (313-303-299—915).

Kan finishes first for Purdue

   Aurora Kan, the 2010 PIAA champion as a senior at Chichester, continued to be the leading lady for Purdue.

   The junior had rounds of 74 and 75 for a 149 total to take top honors as the Boilermakers played host to Kent State and Iowa Saturday in the Rainy Day Shootout at the 6,270-yard, par-72 Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex layout.

   Sophomore Brooke Beagle backed up Kan, earning second place with a pair of 76s and a 152 total. But some of Purdue’s youngsters struggled as junior Johanna Tillstrom (81-79—160) finished 10^th, sophomore Vinh-Hoa Ngo (78-86—164)  finished 15^th and freshman August Kim (83-92—175), who has been a bright spot at times this spring, fnished 18^th.

   The Boilermakers (309-313—622) settled for second in the team chase as Kent State posted rounds of 305 and 313 for a 618 total. Erin Haw (75-78—153), Jennifer Ha (77-77—154) and Wad Phaewchimplee (75-81—156) finished third, fourth and fifth, respectively to lead the way for the Golden Flashes.

   Last weekend, Purdue’s trip to the Dallas Athletic Club/Southern Methodist University Invitational was cut short by weather, leaving the Boilermakers in a tie for 13^th at 627 after rounds of 315 and 312.

   Kan had another strong showing for the Boilermakers with rounds of 78 and 75 that left her in a tie for 23^rd at 153 in the strong 16-team field. A couple of Purdue’s talented youngsters also had solid second rounds as sophomore Anna Appert Lund added a 76 to her opening-round 77 to be among the group tied at 23^rd with Kan at 153, and Kim, the freshman, turned in a 78 after an opening-round 85. Kim, fellow freshman Ashley Yarbrough (80-83) and Beegle (80-83) all landed at 163 in a tie for 76^th.

   North Carolina’s Elizabeth Mallett, a sophomore from England, claimed individual honors, running away to a five-shot victory with rounds of 72 and 69 for a 3-under 141 total. And Baylor (294-297—591) took team honors, finishing four shots ahead of LSU (301-294—595). Baylor was led by junior Hayley Davis (72-74), like Mallett an Englishwoman. She was one of five players who finished in a tie for second at 2-over 146.

Jaster, Fahey get it going at Dartmouth

   Dartmouth’s Inter-Ac League connection of three-time Haverford School All-Delco Scott Jaster and Episcopal Academy’s Sean Fahey both played well as the Big Green opened the spring portion of its schedule with a sixth-place finish in the Met Intercollegiate in Purchase, N.Y.

   Fahey had rounds of 81 and 80 for a 161 total that left him  in a tie for 29^th. Jaster was a shot back with rounds of 79 and 83 that left him a tie for 34^th at 162.

   Dartmouth was led by sophomore Dylan Rusk, who had a pair of 79s to finish in a tie for 18^th at 158. Freshman Jeffrey Lang had rounds of 77 and 82 to finish a shot back of Rusk in a tie for 22^nd at 159.

   Dartmouth posted team scores of 315 and 323 for a 638 total.

   Southeastern Conference power Georgia made its trek north worthwhile as the Bulldogs dominated with rounds of 287 and 293 for a 580 total that was 33 shots clear of runner-up Yale. Lee McCoy led five Georgia players among the top six as he fired a remarkable opening-round 64 followed by a 71 to take individual honors by 11 shots with his 135 total.

   Princeton’s Greg Jarmas, the 2009 PIAA runner-up as a senior at Lower Merion, had rounds of 79 and 74 for a 153 total that left him in a tie for seventh and helped the Tigers (319-314-633) finish fourth in the team standings.

Villanova’s been busy

   Villanova, which was probably a little disappointed with its Wildcat Invitational finish, bounced back with a tie for sixth in the Lafayette Invitational at Silver Creek Country Club in Hellertown.

Led by senior Robby Meador and freshman Peter Mandich, the Wildcats had team scores of 309 and 307 for a 616 total. Longwood took team honors with rounds of 300 and 295 for a 595 total that was three shots clear of Central Connecticut State (306-292—598).

   Meador and Mandich both carded rounds of 76 and 74, their 150 total landing them in a tie for 13^th. Freshman Lucas Trim (76-81—157) finished in a tie for 50^th, sophomore Luke Waggoner (81-78—159) finished in a tie for 62^nd, and senior Vince Boyle (82-81—163) finished in a tie for 81^st.

   Former Radnor standout Tommy Horgan, a senior at La Salle, had rounds of 77 and 79 for a 153 total that left him in a tie for 43^rd.

   La Salle (312-298) shared fifth place with Drexel (307-303) at 610. The Dragons’ Christopher Crawford, a former Holy Ghost Prep standout, claimed individual honors with rounds of 73 and 71 for an even-par 144 total.

   Only a few days earlier, Crawford also claimed the individual title in the Wildcat Invitational at White Manor Country Club. The sophomore had rounds of 70, 68 and 74 for a 1-under 212 total.

   Villanova finished 11^th in the team standings with rounds of 315, 308 and 302 for a 925 total.     Waggoner led the way with rounds of 79, 76 and 74 for a 229 total that left him in a tie for 26^th. Trim (82-76-74—232) finished in a tie for 43^rd, Mandich (79-77-77—233) finished in a tie for 46^th and Meador (79-79-77—235) finished in a tie for 52^nd.

   Former Haverford School standout Ted Brennan opened with a 78 at White Manor and didn’t tee it up the rest of the way and also didn’t figure in at the Lafayette Invitational, which probably spells some kind of injury problem.

   Competing as individuals for Villanova at its Wildcat Invitational, Scott Miller (83-79-79—241) finished in a tie for 71^st and Boyle (82-82-81—245) finished in a tie for 78^th.

   Columbia posted a sparkling 284 in the final round to go with earlier scores of 311 and 297 for an 892 total that left the Lions with a one-shot edge on Army, which matched Columbia’s final-round 284 after earlier rounds of 302 and 307.

   Columbia was led by Harrison Shih, who had rounds of 75, 73 and 71 to finish in a tie for third at 219.  Army was led by Peter Kim, who was the runner-up to individual champion Crawford with rounds of 71, 72 and 73 for a 216 total.

Radnor's Kim taktes fifth at Bustard Memorial

   The Philadelphia Section PGA Junior Tour ran a couple of events this weekend, highlighted by the inaugural Paul L. Bustard Memorial Junior Invitational, a two-day tournament held Saturday and Sunday at Old York Country Club.

   Radnor freshman Gabby Kim had rounds of 85 and 88 for a 173 total that left her fifth in the overall scoring among the girls.

   Jackie Rogowicz, the Pennsbury junior who has been the runnerup each of the last two years in Class AAA at the PIAA Tournament was the runaway winner among the girls with rounds of 76 and 72 for a 6-over 148 total.

   That was 13 shots clear of runnerup Kelly Sim of Edgewater, N.J., who had rounds of 81 and 80 for a 161 total.

   Chichester freshman Caprian Kan had rounds of 92 and 87 for a 179 total that left her in a tie for ninth overall.

   Awards also were broken out among the 13-to-15 competitors in the field. Sim’s 161 total topped that group with Kim in third and Kan in a tie for seventh.

   Among the boys, Penncrest junior Griffin Colvin had rounds of 80 and 81 to finish in a tie for 12^th overall. Ryan Davis of Berkley Heights, N.J. was the overall winner with a pair of 71s for an even-par 142 total that was one shot better than Vincent Palazzolo (71-72) of Colts Neck, N.J.

   John Updike of Wayne finished in a tie for 31^st overall at 175 with rounds of 92 and 83, Jack Hirsh of Villanova finished in a tie for 37^th at 178 with rounds of 87 and 91 and Garnet Valley senior Jack Highfill finished in a tie for 45^th at 187 with rounds of 105 and 82.

   Updike’s total was good for a tie for 12^th when breaking out the 13-to-15 competitors.

   Saturday, the Junior Tour stopped at Middletown Country Club in Bucks County and Dolan Cox of Newtown Square topped the field of nine-holers there with a 43. Aidan Lowe of Villanova finished 10^th with a 65.

   The other division winners were Robert Falconer of Mechanicsburg with a 77 for boys 16-to-18; Andrew Lombardo of Lansdale with a 78 for boys 13-to-15; Meher Mankikar of Bridgewater, N.J. with a 91 for girls 13-to-15; and Elizabeth Koloski of Newtown with a 101 for girls 16-to-18.

   Daniel Bullock of Wayne finished 28^th in the 13-to-15 division with a 105.

Walker, Dolan have strong showings at Philly Challenge

   When Radnor sophomore Brynn Walker got back to me in February concerning her decision to commit to North Carolina, you could tell she was anxious to get back on the golf course in a winter that wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

   Well, the International Junior Golf Tour (IJGT) scheduled its Philly Challenge two weekends ago (March 22-23) at White Manor Country Club and got a little lucky weather-wise. Saturday was probably the nicest day since some time last fall with Sunday turning a lot colder and blustery.

   And Walker was ready to play some golf. She opened with a 1-over 72 in Saturday’s benign conditions and followed it up with a 76 for a 148 total that gave her the victory in the girls division by a whopping 10 shots. Walker had three birdies, two of them on par-3s, in her second-round 76.

   More impressive was the fact that the runnerup who finished those distant 10 shots behind Walker was none other than reigning PIAA Class AAA champion Isabella DiLisio, a junior at Mount St. Joseph. DiLisio had a pair of 79s for a 158 total, pretty nice playing, especially in the tough second-round conditions. But Walker clearly dusted a girl who also won a District One title as a sophomore and led the Mount to the PIAA Class AAA team title a day after winning the individual crown.

   Walker had finished second in the IJGT event at White Manor a year ago. She was asked how she was able to perform at such a high level after a winter of watching the snow and ice pile up.

   “Over the winter, it was tough because of the weather to work on different things, but I worked on my mindset and getting the mental game down,” Walker, who finished in a tie for fifth at the PIAA Tournament last fall, told the IJGT website. “I think that really paid off. I was just mentally strong this week.”

   Cara Basso, who won the PIAA Class AA title in 2012 as a sophomore at Villa Maria, had rounds of 90 and 76 for a 166 total that left her in fifth place. Basso and Walker shared the Clazic Belts Low Final Round Award with their 76s.

   Agnes Irwin eighth-grader Kaitlyn Lees, the reigning Inter-Ac League champion, had rounds of 85 and 86 to finish sixth at 171.

   The Philly Challenge also saw a strong showing by Bonner-Prendie junior Quinn Dolan, the reigning Catholic League champion. Dolan, a member at Rolling Green Golf Club, finished in a tie for second in the boys 15-19 division with rounds of 80 and 76 for a 156 total.

   Dolan finished four shots back of the winner, Sam Goldenring of Florham Park, N.Y. Goldenring put up a pair of 76s for a 152 total.

   Sharing second place with Dolan was Malvern Prep junior Brendan Bacskai, who helped the Friars win the Inter-Ac League title last fall. Playing on his home course at White Manor, Bacskai had rounds of 81 and 75. His final-round 75 earned him  the Clazic Belts Low Final Round Award among the guys.