PIAA BOYS GOLF: ATHENS' HICKS SHOOTS ANOTHER 79 — FINISHES 51ST AT CLASS 3A CHAMPIONSHIPS (10 PHOTOS) (2025-10-21)

Valley Sports Report
STATE COLLEGE — Athens junior Eli Hicks shot 79 for the second day in a row on Day 2 of the PIAA Class 3A Championships  here on a rainy Tuesday at the Penn State Blue Course.

Hicks' two-day total of 158 was good for 51st-place for the second year in a row.

"I'm happy with the way I struck the ball," said Hicks. "I feel the way I hit the ball was easily as good or better than most of the kids there, but my short game (around the green) lost me a few strokes."

That said, Hicks said his short irons were a big plus on the round.

"From 100 yards and in really helped me out today," he sad.

Hicks started the day on the 10th hole, and posted a double-bogey 7.

"The first hole of the day was a lost ball and I had to re-tee at 3, which was unfortunate," said Hicks.

"I hit the tee shot down the right side and we just couldn't find the ball in the rough," he added.

The rest of the day off the tee was near-perfect for Hicks.

I hit 16 greens in regulation, would have had 17 if it wasn't for the lost ball," he said. "I hit 14 fairways -- it was a pretty good day."

After bogeys on 13 and 14, Hicks birdied the par-3 17th hole and finished the back nine with a 4-over par 40.

On the front nine, Hicks carded bogeys on the second, fifth and seventh holes, and parred the other six holes for a 3-over 39.

Hicks biggest weakness on Tuesday was on the greens.

"My putting was a little rough," he said. "I had a couple three-putts."

Fox Chapel's Carson Kittsley shot a 6-under par round of 66 Tuesday to post a winning two-day total of 136, while Greater Latrobe's Jack Sacriponte also shot a 66 Tuesday and finished second with a 137. Unionville's Charlie Brickman shot 71-67 to finish third with a 138.

Day 1 lead Chase Yenser of Daniel Boone followed up his 68 Monday with a 72 on Tuesday for a 140 to finish fourth.

Hicks, who also shot two rounds (75-79) in the 70s last year to finish 51st with a two-day total of 154, said he'll working on his game around the green this offseason.

"I'll mainly be working on my short game — a lot of chipping and putting," said Hicks. "I know with the other parts of my game I can compete."

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PHOTOS BY LANCE LARCOM.



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