Malvern Prep Golf Wins PAISAA State Championship

On October 30, at Radley Run Country Club, the Malvern Prep Golf team secured the 2023 Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association (PAISAA) State Championship title. The Friars shot a team score of +10 (255) finishing 8 shots ahead of Germantown Academy (233) to secure the victory.

Head Varsity Golf Coach, Gary Duda ’88 P’26, remarked on the win, “Winning the PAISAA State Championship is a goal of ours at the beginning of every year because it means we've defeated some of the top private school teams across the state, including those teams from the Inter-Ac league. Anytime you win the PAISAA, you can confidently say that we beat the best!”

Individual highlights from the match included Michael Henry ’25 firing a 1-over par score of 73 to finish 1 shot back of the leader. He finished second overall in the competition. Davis Conaway ’26 posted a 75 to finish T-3. Eamon Cochran ’25 and Colby Komancheck ’27 both signed for 77 to each finish T-11. Brody Bell ’25 and Shane Powelson ’24 rounded out the team scoring by posting an 84 and 85 respectively.

The PAISAA win was a complete team effort and Coach Duda had this to say on the team, “I'm most proud of the character and resilience that this team possesses. They love to compete and truly support each other, on and off the golf course.”

Head of Athletics, Jim Stewart ’86, reflected on the successful season saying, "Our golf program plays at a very high level, especially in league play with Inter-Ac schools. Although we fell a bit short in the league, our guys played really well down the stretch and continued to improve. Their persistence and confidence fed off of each other and led to their team success at the PAISAA Championships."

This is Gary Duda’s 23rd season coaching the Malvern Golf team. Under his leadership, the team has claimed eight Inter-Ac titles and three PAISAA Championship titles.