2 days Ago By Neil Geoghegan
By Neil Geoghegan [email protected] EAST MARLBOROUGH – For as long as there have been golf coaches, they’ve been preaching how every stroke counts. When Unionville and West Chester Rustin tangle on any course, coaches Jimmy O’Rourke and Joe Paris know from experience that it isn’t just a cliché.
The visiting Golden Knights and Longhorns met for the first of two regular season clashes on Tuesday at Kennett Square Golf & Country Club. And nobody was surprised when the battle of the unbeaten Ches-Mont American powers was decided by a total of two strokes. “It usually comes down to a stroke or two against these guys,” O’Rourke said.
“I check in with my guys on hole No. 7 every round, and I tell them ‘there are three holes left and I don’t want anybody saying it’s not my day.’ We might need them to go 1-under the next three holes, whether it’s their day or not.
” Despite an out-of-this-world 3-under-par 32 from senior star Sam Feeney, Rustin still came up short, 185-187, to a deep Unionville squad that counted zero scores over 40. The Knights counted a pair over 40. “Unionville plays this course very well, just as we play Penn Oaks well,” said Feeney, the Daily Local News Golfer of the Year in 2023.
“(Unionville) has been putting in some insane numbers this season, so we knew we would have to put up some really good numbers. We almost got them, but it was fun. “That we are able to compete with Unionville shows we have a very good team too.
” The narrow win is important because the tiebreaker that will determine the American Division champion is the total score from both regular season matches. A year ago, the ’Horns won it narrowly despite losing at Rustin’s home course, Penn Oaks Golf Club. The rematch is scheduled for Oct.
1. “It was definitely a little closer than we wanted it,” Charlie Barrickman said. “We are going to have to turn it on at Penn Oaks, but I don’t see why we can’t do that.
” O”Rourke added: “We are probably a four-stroke favorite here and (Rustin) is a four-stroke favorite at Penn Oaks. So for them to drop this by just two, they got the job done. We were hoping to have more of a buffer going into Penn Oaks.
“There is no room for error. We pretty much have to tie or beat Rustin to win the division. And whoever comes out second will have to battle somebody pretty good on the (Ches-Mont) National side to get into districts.
Both Rustin and Unionville would love to have that automatic berth into districts that comes with finishing first in the division.” Barrickman paced the Longhorns with an even-par 35 that featured two birdies, including one at the par-5 finishing hole. Fellow junior Cole Donnelly (36), senior Jax Puskar (37) and sophomore Matt McGinty (37) were also instrumental in the win.
“Our number two (Nick Gaughan) and number four (Michael Keller) did not play their best today,” O’Rourke said. “But for us to have a couple others who can jump up – like Matt McGinty and Cole Donnelly – makes a big difference. “(McGinty) has shown that before and he can certainly play that well, but for him to do it when we needed it is impressive.
Matt, Cole (Donnelly) and Jax (Puskar) are all kids who can shoot under par. That’s what you need to stay in a match against an opponent like Rustin, especially when a guy like Sam Feeney goes crazy.” Renowned for his consistency, Feeney notched birdies at the par-4 second and eighth holes as well as the par-5 ninth.
“I was solid tee-to-green, got a couple putts to drop and my wedge shots were good today,” he said. “(Feeney’s) 32 was insane,” Paris added. “That’s college level golf.
He’s probably the most consistent golfer I’ve ever been around. For some of these big matches, he just plays lights out.” The Knights’ also got outstanding rounds from juniors Anesti Kalderemtzis (36) and Cole Berry (36).
Berry tapped in for a birdie on the ninth, barely missing out on an eagle by inches. “We knew we had to play really well to beat (Unionville),” Paris said. “They are very, very good.
“We know we are going to get good play from Feeney. Anesti (Kalderemtzis) and Cole (Berry) played solid golf. But the rest of our lineup just didn’t play as well as they normally do.
” Rustin falls to 6-1 in the division (7-1 overall). Unionville improves to 7-0, 12-0. “Not everyone on our team had their best stuff today, but we try not to give up on any round because you never know when your score is going to count,” Barrickman said.
Unionville 185, West Chester Rustin 187 Par 35 at Kennett Square G&CC W.C. Rustin: Feeney 32, Kalderemtzis 36, Berry 36, Mansueto 41, Linkchorst 42.
Unionville: Barrickman 35, Donnelly 36, Puskar 37, McGinty 37, Gaughan 40..
