By Neil Geoghegan
ngeoghegan@21st-centurymedia.com
EAST WHITELAND – Over the last few seasons, the Downingtown West girls’ golf squad has overtaken Unionville as the team to beat in the Ches-Mont.
With Tuesday’s 185-211 victory over host Great Valley, the Whippets still haven’t dropped a dual meet to a Ches-Mont foe since the 2022 season. The undefeated league champs in ’23, West is now 10-0 in the Ches-Mont, and 11-1 overall.
“Unionville was always the team to beat,” said Whippets’ head coach Andrew Braun. “They’ve had a lot of graduation losses recently, but it is still a strong program.
“Our team is loaded with talent – probably the most of any team we’ve had in the last few years. So we are really excited to continue playing and competing.”
The Patriots fall to 0-8 (0-9 overall), but head coach Owen Brown’s program has a bright future. The squad boasts a roster of 15, and all but three are freshmen.
“We had a big recruiting push last spring, so we are excited about that,” he said.
“It’s just difficult getting girls interested in playing golf. But now we have a group that is interested and excited about the game.”
West is anchored by a trio of veteran players: senior captains Rachel Schuda and Emma Lewis, along with junior Malaina Druffner. On Tuesday, Schuda was the medalist with an 8-over-par 43, and Druffner chipped in a 44.
“It’s a tough golf course, and the windy conditions certainly played a factor in some of the scores,” Braun explained.
“It was a great round from Rachel, and Malaina’s 44 really helped us. Anytime you can get three scores in the 40s at Chester Valley is a good day.”
The other scores that counted for the Whippets came from Reagan McGruther (48), a 50 from Lewis and a 52 from Macyn Linsley.
“(Schuda, Lewis and Druffner) are the leaders of this team,” Braun said. “They are helping groom some of these young ladies who are underclassmen, and that’s going to shape the future for our program.”
Last week, West suffered its lone loss of the season, a taut 158-166 battle with Conestoga at Downingtown Country Club. The Pioneers also ended the Whippets season with a win in districts.
“That was probably the lowest overall score I’ve seen in my seven years of coaching,” Braun said of the recent setback to ‘Stoga. “It was a great match.
“The experiences we gained last season will help us this year. This team certainly has higher aspirations than winning the Ches-Mont.”
Freshman Alexa Shure paced the Patriots with a 51, followed by identical 53s from senior Catie Borger and freshman Chandler Salita.
“We had four scores in the low 50s, so that is a big improvement for us,” Brown said.
A student at Downingtown STEM, Druffner is averaging in the 30s this season, and carded a 2-under-par score against Conestoga.
“It was a very good test today,” she said. “My score wasn’t as consistent as it’s been. The putts weren’t rolling in today.
“As a team we try to keep optimistic at all times. If our mental game drops, then our scores follow. We really try to keep the compliments coming and stay away from negativity.”
Downingtown West 185, Great Valley 211
Par 35 at Chester Valley GC
Downingtown West: Schuda 43, Druffner 44, McGruther 48, Lewis 50, Delaney 53.
Great Valley: Shure 51, Borger 53, Salita 53, Spence 54, Troha 62.
