Upstart Kennett golfers upend Unionville on ‘Horns home course
EAST MARLBOROUGH >> It was building to this, but most really good golf teams come to Kennett Square Golf & Country Club to face Unionville and leave with an ‘L.’
But that did not happen on Tuesday, as upstart Kennett knocked off the Longhorns, 201-206, to effectively keep themselves in the tight three-way race to capture the Ches-Mont American crown.
“This is huge,” said Demons’ head coach Kevin Murphy.
“If there is any surprise, it’s that we usually play well at our own course,” said Unionville head coach Jimmy O’Rourke. “But if you look at Kennett’s team, and the scores they’ve put up all year, it is not surprising. They are deeper than they’ve been in the past.”
At this point, it’s pretty clear that the Demons, the ’Horns and West Chester Rustin are among the best in the entire league, and not just the division. With the breakthrough win, Kennett improves to 5-1 (10-1 overall) and shares first place with Rustin. Unionville is now 5-2 (6-4-1 overall).
“This was a big match for all of us,” acknowledged Demons’ senior Grant Urie. “We already lost to Rustin (at Penn Oaks), so this was a must win situation. We need to go 3-1 this season against (Unionville and Rustin) and right now we are 1-1. And the next two are coming at home (at Hartefeld National).
“We have something to prove. I like the group of guys we have, and we have a great chance to go far.”
On Tuesday, Kennett won it at the top, with a pair of 2-over-par 37s from juniors Kasim Narinesingh-Smith and Nick Vitale. Nobody else from either side managed to break 40.
“Not all of us played our best, but teammates picked us up,” said Urie, who fired a 44. “I was playing with Nick (Vitale) and he shot a 37.”
It made up for an off day by Kennett senior Griffin Gaughan, who settled for a 43.
“Griffin didn’t have the day he usually has,” Murphy said. “He birdied the first and then had an eight on the (par-4) second hole.
“But it was nice because we needed help from the middle of our lineup, and we got it from Nick. I knew Nick was capable of a 37, but he hadn’t done it in a while.”
Narinesingh-Smith’s round included birdies on the first three holes.
“Our team really rallies around Kasim,” Murphy pointed out. “He’s got a well-rounded game and he feels the only thing holding him back is putting, and I would probably have to agree. He doesn’t unravel when he has a bad hole. He is poised and ready to take on the next shot, and isn’t dwelling on the last shot.
“That is a tough skill for young men, but he does it,”
The Longhorns were paced by a pair of 40s from Jack Coleman and Rex Opdahl, and Jax Puskar added a 41.
“We are playing well, but just not scoring well,” O’Rourke said. “It’s been that way all season. But when it comes down to it, it is how many strokes it takes to get in the hole, and it doesn’t matter how good you look doing it.”
Senior Drew Zieg carded a 40 and also helped the Demons notch the victory. Although Kennett split with Unionville a year ago, it has been many, many years since they’ve been able to top the ’Horns on their home course.
“(Unionville) had 40-something kids go out for their golf team, and we had 15,” Murphy said. “We feel a little like David against Goliath, but we know we have talent.
“I do know that (Unionville) will be gunning for us at Hartefeld.”
The rematch is scheduled for Sept. 22, the day after the Blue Demon’s play host to the Golden Knights.
Kennett 201, Unionville 206
Par 35 at Kennett Square G&CC
Kennett: Narinesingh-Smith 37; Vitale 37; Zieg 40; Gaughan 43, Urie 44.
Unionville: Coleman 40; Opdahl 40; Puskar 41; Raihall 42, Tuerff 43.
