Malvern Prep golf team wins opener against strong ‘Stoga squad

Easttown – The Malvern Prep golf team, coming off a 2015 campaign in which it compiled a 39-2-1 record and won both the PAISSA and Inter-Ac championships, got off to a fast start Wednesday in its season opener against Conestoga, defeating the Pioneers 226-239 at Waynesborough Country Club.
“To come out of the gate with a 226 [for 54 total holes] is outstanding, a very good start,” said Malvern Prep golf head coach Gary Duda. “I knew coming into the season that our potential was very good, that we had key components of [last year’s] team coning back. We have a lot of depth — 10 players who will compete daily [for a spot in each match] — that’s more than a coach can ask for.
“And for us to beat a quality program like Conestoga, which has had a good program for years, is a real confidence-booster.”
Malvern Prep got fine play from sophomore John Updike (one-under-par 34), junior Matt Davis (37), sophomore Matt Civitella (37), senior Gavin Sims (38), junior Erik McLaughlin (38) and sophomore Andrew Curran (42), while Conestoga (2-2) got 38s from juniors Alex Cook and Ryan Tall.
Updike, one of the leading scorers in the Inter-Ac last fall, closed his Wednesday round with a bang, posting birdies on Nos. 8 and 9 as he knocked his approach shots on both holes within a few feet of the flag.
“Playing [before school starts] is a nice way to start the school year,” noted Updike. “You get to hang out with your teammates for a while.”
Updike and his Wednesday afternoon playing partner, Matt Davis, competed in the second round of the PDQ/Philadelphia Runner Junior tourney, conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, at Saucon Valley Country Club earlier in the day. Playing in his second event of the day didn’t appear to tire out either Updike or Davis, as the latter birdied Nos. 7 and 8 late in the round, then sunk a long putt on the last hole for par.
Conestoga golf head coach John Jones was proud of his young squad, which has only two seniors.
“Playing a great team like Malvern early in the year is a really good way for our team to get experience,” said Jones. “We have a young group this year, we have potential, and we had some scores to be proud of today.”
Cook, who also plays rugby for Conestoga, hit several noteworthy shots Wednesday. On No. 4, a par 3 that played approximately 160 yards from the tee, Cook rifled a nine-iron right on the flagstick, and the ball finished about 15 feet short of the cup.
On No. 9, Cook had a fairly deep fairway bunker shot of about 150 yards to the green, and he hit the green with a pitching wedge.
“I played the ball back in my stance, and hit the back of the ball just right,” noted Cook.
Ryan Tall, who also scored 38, said, “I struck the ball well today, but I just couldn’t get inside 10 feet.”
Interestingly, both Malvern Prep and Conestoga claim Waynesborough as their home course, so even though Malvern was designated as the home team Wednesday, it really wasn’t an away match for the Pioneers. The Waynesborough course was designed by famous architect George Fazio, and was opened in 1965. A favorite hole of the participants interviewed was No. 7, a par 5.
“No. 7 is a good risk-reward hole,” Tall said. “If you keep it in play, you can get it as close as possible [to the pin]; if not, you can still get a decent score.”
“It’s my favorite hole,” said Cook. “You hit two good shots and you have the chance for an eagle.”
Duda said, “It’s a fun hole, coming right near the end of the round. A lot of things can happen here — you can make a big number if you get too aggressive.”

At Waynesborough Country Club — 9 holes, Par 35
Conestoga — Alex Cook 38, Ryan Tall 38, Nick Yi 40, Sammy Yao 41, Mikey Hamilton 41, Peter Zuraw 41
Malvern Prep – John Updike 34, Matt Davis 37, Matt Civitella 37, Gavin Sims 38, Erik McLaughlin 38, Andrew Curran 42.