In rematch, depth helps Unionville edge W.C. Rustin
EAST MARLBOROUGH >> The West Chester Rustin and Unionville golf teams are presumed to be among this season’s elite Ches Mont American squads. And nothing that happened during Tuesday’s dual meet between the two changed anything.
Just 12 days after falling to the Golden Knights by 18 strokes on their home course, the host Longhorns fought back to edge Rustin 191-193 at Kennett Square Golf & Country Club to even the season series at 1-1. Both sides counted four of five scores under 40, which is outstanding.
“To get a win against a great opponent just builds confidence,” said Unionville head coach Jimmy O’Rourke.
“That is our best score of the year, and this was our best effort, I think.”
Sophomore Sam Feeney grabbed medalist honors for the Knights (2-1, 2-1) with an even-par 35, but the ’Horns made up for it with depth as Johan Tuerff shot a 37, and Jax Puskar, Danny Donnelly and Rex Opdahl each carded 38s.
“We know the putts, the greens and the fairways here. It just feels more comfortable being on our home course,” said Unionville junior Jack Coleman, who shot a 40.
“If we are here, we have to take advantage of course knowledge,” added Opdahl. “(Rustin) definitely had it at Penn Oaks (Golf Club). So it feels good to get one back here.”
Opdahl reached the 447-yard par-5 9th hole in two, and two-putted for a birdie.
“To know we counted four scores in the 30s and the fifth is a 40, win or lose, I am taking that every day,” O’Rourke said. “We are trending in the right direction.”
Feeney topped his opening tee shot, but recovered with a par, and then added a birdie at the par-3 5th. His only bogey was on No. 6.
“To beat Unionville here (at Kennett Square Golf & Country Club), you have to play some extremely good golf,” he said.
“So splitting with them means we are one of the better teams in our division and in the conference.”
Colin Kyser, Nick Linkchorst and Anesti Kalderentzis each fired 39s for Rustin.
“(Unionville is) tough here just like we are tough at Penn Oaks (Golf Club),” said Knights’ head coach Joe Paris. “We knew it was going to come down to a stroke or two. To win the Ches-Mont, you have to go through Unionville and they know they probably have to go through Rustin.
“This shows just our players how big every stroke is. But it was a good battle today. We had a few 3-putts here or there, but I never get upset with them because I know they are grinding every single hole.
“Shooting 193 is a heck of a score. Of all the teams I’ve ever coached, only a handful could get that low.”
The Longhorns improve to 4-1 in the division (4-2 overall). And they shot 19 strokes better than on Aug. 18 in the first meeting against Rustin.
“We gave it our all, went out and got the win, and now we want to go win at Ches-Monts,” Coleman said.
“We got crushed the first time and we had to forget about that,” added senior Ryan McGill (40). “We bounced back and beat Great Valley at Radley Run (Country Club). And what happened today really helps.”
Unionville 191, West Chester Rustin 193
Par 35 at Kennett Square G&CC
W.C. Rustin: Feeney 35; Kyser 39, Linkchorst 39; Kalderentzis 39; DeSantis 41.
Unionville: Tuerff 37; Puskar 38; Opdahl 38; Donnelly 38; Coleman 40; McGill 40.
