WAYNESBORO – When the Mount St. Mary’s University men’s and women’s golf teams needed a new home golf course, Waynesboro Country Club’s Kenny Smith sprang into action.
Smith saw the possibility of the teams using WCC as an opportunity for both the intercollegiate golf teams and the country club.
“I went to the board – and a couple of folks here – and told them the Mount is only 25 minutes away. I think it would be good to give them privelages to play here. This was last year. When they left Quail Valley Golf Course (in Littlestown) last fall, I went to the golf committee and asked them if there would be an opportunity for them to make this their home course. The golf committee approved it, they took it to the board, and they approved it.”
Once the financial details and an explanation of the rules and regulations were addressed, the Mount had a new home course.
And, a door was opened to the teams and the golf community in Waynesboro.
Suddenly, in addition to members and guests playing on the course that was founded in 1928 and has been hailed as one of the best-groomed courses for miles around, golfers from colleges and universities will converge here for invitationals.
“To have division I athletes playing here is nice,” Smith said. “They’re a good group of kids. Overall they’re pretty solid golfers. I think it’s a great opportunity for the kids and the course. I think it’s going to be a good venture. I’d like to see it be long term.”
“The conditions are impeccable. When these guys go away to some of these other golf courses, they play some pretty good golf courses. Greens are fast. Fairways are good, tees are good. The only downfall it has for these guys is it’s a short golf course.”
Mount St. Mary’s plays a fall season and a spring season- five events in both seasons.
Devin Smith (Kenny Smith’s son), a junior on the men’s team, placed first at the Matthews Auto Intercollegiate in Appalachian, New York, with an impressive pair of sub-par rounds. Smith carded a four-under 68 on the first day and followed it up with a five-under 67 in the second round for a score of 135.
The head coach is Kevin Farrell. Brent Will, who along with members of the men’s and women’s team attended a recent meet and greet at the Waynesboro Country Club, is the assistant coach.
“Kenny was the driving force behind us being here,” Will said. “He was the previous president of the board. He brought it to their attention and advocated for us coming here. He got the ball in motion.”
Will, a Titleist fitter for 17 years, was born and raised in Pennsylvania. He lived in Somerset, attended Shippensburg University, and chose to stay in the area. He also coached high school golf for three years and, after nearly two decades working for Titleist, he decided to get back into coaching, this time at the collegiate level.
“I talked to Kevin (Farrell) over the summer of ’22, just inquiring if he ever needed an assistant coach. Later in the summer, he said, ‘Hey, I need you if you can come out.’
“I just liked coaching, being with younger kids and imparting a little wisdom of life and golf. I love the game so much, I want to give a little back. I got to meet a lot of people, see a lot of cool things.”
Will said the Mount golf teams have played at Waynesboro Country Club before in qualifying rounds.
“It’s a great track. The conditions are always good. It’s an upgrade for us, for sure.”
The next scheduled competition for the men’s team is the Bucknell Invitational on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
The 2023-24 men’s roster consists of Devin Smith (Waynesboro), Santiago Bonequi (Mexico City/Montverde Academy, Florida), Fisher Coleman-Sayer (Marathon, Florida/Marathon), Juan Fradera (Barcelona, Spain), Mitchell Gallo (Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania, Wilson HS), Martin Hurtado (Las Condes, Chile, Montverde Academy, Florida), Tyler Kimble (Westminster, Maryland/Winters Mill), Christian Molina (Windermere, Florida), Joseph O’Malley (West Chester, Pennsylvania, Bishop Shanahan), Nathan Pheng (Frisco, Texas, Memorial), Ben Smith (Blain, Pennsylvania, West Perry), Aaron Sorkin (Westminster, Maryland, Westminster).
The women’s roster is made up of Erika Cui (Wellington, New Zealand), Makensy Knaub (York, Pennsylvania, Dallastown), Suzanna Martin (Sykesville, Maryland, Century), Allie Sexton (Flint, Michigan, Powers Catholic), Jennifer Sorkin (Westmister, Maryland, Westminster), Naomi Yacyshen (Auckland, New Zealand, Westlake Girls’).
