Unionville girls defeat Downingtown West to remain undefeated

Kennett Square >> Unionville is enjoying its debut season in the Ches-Mont girls’ golf league this fall, winning its first 10 matches, including a 171-201 victory against Downingtown West Tuesday at Kennett Golf & Country Club.
“It’s great that we now have a local league,” said Unionville girls’ golf head coach Joe Sudimak. “Last year, when we were in the PAC [Pioneer Athletic Conference], we had to drive up Route 422 to get to Turtle Creek or Linfield. Now for our league matches, we travel to play Chester County courses like Wyncote and Inniscrone.”
The Indians’ home course is Kennett Golf & Country Club, a Donald Ross design that includes many elevation changes and is dotted with bunkers.
“I love this course,” said Unionville junior Charlotte Scully after Tuesday’s round. “The greens are always fast, and playing on this course, you really learn what kind of shots to hit off the tee in every situation. And I really like hole No. 2 – the way the front of the green slopes down, you really have to think about your second shot.”
Scully, who finished second at Districts last fall, will be leading the Indians Wednesday when they face their biggest match of the season so far, travelling to Whitford Country Club to play Downingtown East, last year’s Pioneer Athletic Conference champions. If D-East wins, the Cougars tie the Indians for first place in the Ches-Mont League; if the Indians win, it pretty much paves the way for a Ches-Mont League team title for Unionville.
“Last year, we had six players; this year, we have 12 players, and it makes for more opportunities to bond as a team,” said Scully.
Unionville freshman Mary Dunigan added some spice to Tuesday match, shooting a 1-over-par 36 which included a birdie on No. 9, a challenging par 5 that measures 391 yards from the red tees.
“I have a new driver with a longer shaft, which lets me hit the ball a little further,” said Dunigan, whose father, John, is a teaching pro at Applebrook. “I was hitting the ball well today, and hit my drive on No. 9 to the top of the hill. I wanted to go for the green, go for an eagle, but my 3-hybrid came up a little short of the green.”
Dunigan nicely pitched the ball 12 feet above the hole, and coolly sunk the downhill 12-footer for the birdie to complete her 36. Scully finished with a 43, and other top Unionville scores were Kaitlyn Ferrer (45) and Molly Evanko (47).
For Downingtown West, leading scorers were Rosie Byrne (48), Jillian Groff (50) and Celia Breslin (50). Maddie Perkins and Angelina Donatelli each shot 53.