Accuracy helps Chalupa, Avon Grove

Avondale >> The old saying in golf is if you keep the ball straight, good things will happen. Avon Grove’s Matt Chalupa was the perfect example of that. All afternoon the junior hit straight shots helping him capture a match-best 2-over par 37.
His strong performance helped Avon Grove collect a 207-226 Ches-Mont League National Division victory over West Chester Henderson at Inniscrone Golf Club on Thursday afternoon.
“It definitely feels good to get the win. We obviously have work to do but we’re happy to get the victory,” Chalupa said. “I was able to get off to a strong start. My drives were pretty good today and that helped a lot.”
Chalupa’s tee shots were solid the entire afternoon. His most impressive moment came on the par-five,  481-yard 7th hole. After driving the ball onto the fairway, the junior showcased his excellent mid-game and short game to pick up his only birdie of the day.
“I was pretty good around greens,” Chalupa said. “I struggled a little bit putting but I was happy with the chipping. I thought my wedges were pretty good today.”
Colin Moerman and Alec Deshales tied for second for the Red Devils. Both carded 41s.
“I birdied the first hole,” Deshales said. “I was left of the green towards the trees and I was able to stick the ball about five feet from the hole. I knocked in the putt and picked up the birdie. I thought my short game was on for the most part. I was able to consistently sink a couple seven footers throughout the round.”
For Moerman, his round went the opposite way. He started out rough but finished on a high note.
“I struggled in the beginning,” Moerman said. “ I pushed a couple iron shots and bogeyed the first couple holes. After that I picked up a few pars and finished strong. It felt good to end that way.”
Strong starts aren’t unfamiliar territory for Avon Grove (2-0, 3-0). Last season they won their first six matches. For head coach Jim Kent, he can already see the growth in his team.
“We are young,” Kent said. “The kids are getting better every day. We’re getting there. I have a lot of players who can shoot between 41 and 45. I think they’re capable of shooting even lower than that. Hopefully they constantly improve and we can do well in the Ches-Mont this year.”
The Warriors’ (1-2, 1-2) number one golfer, Dylan Teeter, tied Michael Dinacci team-high honors with a  44.
“Today didn’t go as well as planned, but I think it can serve as a good building block this season” Teeter said. “It’s early and we’re still improving. My short game was better than my previous rounds. It’s something I have been working on so it was good that improved today.”
The highlight for the junior came after he birdied the par-four 2nd hole.
“I was able to drive it right over the bunkers,” Teeter said. “That basically left me with a 30-yard chip and I was able to put it five feet from the pin. After that I just had to make the putt.”
There were some other positives for the Warriors. No. 2 player Sam Bertrando may not have finished on the final scorecard but the freshman displayed some tremendous putting, including a 25-foot par putt on the 4th hole.
“I made it onto the green in three (shots),” Bertrando said. “I read it and it felt good and it went in. I was a little nervous in the beginning but sinking that putt definitely helped me relax.”
Avon Grove will look to remain unbeaten when they host West Chester East on Tuesday at Inniscrone Golf Club. The Warriors will come home for the first time to face Coateville at Radley Run Country Club on Tuesday.

Avon Grove 207, West Chester Henderson 226
At Inniscrone Golf Club — 9 holes, Par 35
W.C. Henderson — Teeter 44, Dinacci 44, Breuninger 45, Muth 46, Boquist 47.
Avon Grove — Chalupa 37, DeShales 41, Moerman 41, McGibbon 45, McNamara 44.