Looking to challenge C-M American favorites, Kennett improves to 8-0
NEW GARDEN >> There are two local golf programs making a serious bid to upset the perceived natural order at the top the Ches-Mont standings. One is West Chester Henderson in the National division. And then there’s Kennett in the American.
The Blue Demons are certainly on a roll, after topping Great Valley 205-241 on Thursday at Hartefeld National Golf Club to move to 8-0 overall, and 3-0 in the C-M American.
“I think we all improved in the off-season individually, so our team has improved,” said junior Kasim Narinesingh-Smith.
“It is nice to see Kennett golf getting some attention, but it’s also great to be a part of this.”
A year ago, the Demons finished a strong third in the division behind traditional powers Unionville and West Chester Rustin, but missed out on qualifying for districts as a team. Kennett travels to Rustin and Unionville on Sept. 8th and 13th, respectively, and then will play host to the Knights and Longhorns on Sept. 21 and 22.
“Last season we were good, but we couldn’t get over the hump and finished third behind (West Chester) Rustin and Unionville,” said Demons’ head coach Kevin Murphy. “At least in the last several years, that’s how you compare yourself, against those two.”
The above four dual meets, together with the Ches-Mont Championship on Sept. 27, will ultimately determine whether Kennett can move into the top three overall from the league and qualify for districts. So far, the Demons have flourished even without one of their top players, Charlie Guzzio, who is lost for the season with an ankle injury.
“What makes me super excited is that the rest of the team has been rallying for the team success,” Murphy said. “They know three teams from the Ches-Mont go to the districts and they want to be one of those teams.”
It wasn’t all good for Kennett, however. A day earlier, the Demons fired a season-best 194 while beating Garnet Valley at Hartefeld National. On Thursday, the score was bumped up by 11 shots.
“We put it all together (Wednesday) against a 3-0 Garnet Valley team,” Murphy pointed out. “Our team was amped. Today, we had already beaten Great Valley, and a couple of our guys put up significantly higher scores than I would have expected.”
It definitely wasn’t Narinesingh-Smith, who fired a 1-under-par 35 and captured medalist honors by 5 strokes. He birdied both of the par-5s on the front side at Hartefeld (Nos. 2 and 8), and his lone bogey was at the par-4 7th.
“Kasim is a golf machine. He is so efficient,” Murphy said.
“It was probably the first match this season where I walk away and feel content with how I played,” Narinesingh-Smith added.
“Putting’s been my Achilles heel all season so far. Today I had one 3-putt (at the 2nd) but it was for par, so I can’t really complain.”
It was a rough day for the Patriots (3-3, 3-4 overall), who also lost a key player before the season began: sophomore John Curran, who transferred to Devon Prep. Sophomore Owen Grimes paced the Pats with a 43.
“(Curran) was consistently shooting in the high 30s last season. But you move on,” said Great Valley assistant coach Paul Girone.
“The first time we played (Kennett), we lost by 16 strokes. Today we lose by 36. Some of our better players did not have their best today. It is a tough course all the way from tee to green.”
Seniors Griffin Gaughan and Drew Zieg finished second and third overall with a 40 and 41, respectively, for the Demons. Junior Nick Vitale added a 43.
In order to break through the Unionville/Rustin logjam at the top of the standings, Kennett will need all of the depth it can muster. But what’s happened so far this season has sure put the Demons in the mix.
“I think we need to get out of our own way – just stop thinking about everything and play good golf,” Narinesingh-Smith said.
Kennett 205, Great Valley 241
Par 36 at Hartefeld National GC
Great Valley: Grimes 43; Richardson 44; Noll 45; Davison 54; Iams 55.
Kennett: Narinesingh-Smith 35; Gaughan 40; Zieg 41; Vitale 43; Murphy 46.
