PIAA BOYS GOLF: ATHENS' HICKS GOES UNDER-PAR ON DAY 2 AT STATES; PLACES 7TH IN BEST FINISH IN PROGRAM HISTORY (11 PHOTOS) (October 20, 2026)

Valley Sports Report
STATE COLLEGE — Athens senior Eli Hicks shook off an early double-bogey to shoot under-par at Day 2 of the PIAA Class AA Boys Golf Championships and skyrocket up the leaderboard for the best finish at States in program history.

Hicks carded five birdies in his 1-under par round of 71 to offset a pair of double-bogeys. He moved from 29th place after Day to a seventh-place finish in his third trip to States.

"Honestly, placing seventh is surreal," said Hicks. "It's been a great four years at Athens and to end with a medal is unbelievable."

Hicks said the biggest difference in his play was giving himself a chance to score.

"Today, I really struck my irons well and stayed out of trouble," he said. "The difference from yesterday to today is I had more makable birdie chances."

Hicks finished 51st in each of his first two trips to States.

"The difference between the last two years is I was happy just qualifying," said Hicks. "This year, I knew I could compete."

Hicks opened Day 2 with a birdie on the 360-yard, par-4, but put up a double-bogey on the par-4 third hole.

"Having a double-bogey early didn’t affect me today because I started off with a birdie," said Hicks. 

"I knew I was hitting the ball well and I followed the double with another birdie to get back to even-par. 

"I told myself I can play aggressive the rest of the way," added Hicks.

After a birdie on the 182-yard, par-3 fourth hole, Hicks parred the rest of the front nine for an even-par 36.

Hicks started the back nine with a birdie on the 383-yard, par-four 10th hole, the posted a double-bogey on the par-5 12th hole. He bounced back with birdies on 325-yard, par-four 15th hole, and the 435-yard, par-5 18th hole to finish off a 35 on the back nine.

"What can I say, the kid played his heart out today," said Athens coach Shane Saxon. "He set a goal this week to be top-25 and he exceeded that.

"Seventh place and medaling was huge for him," noted Saxon. "I believe he is the first Athens golfer to ever medal at States.

"He played some really good golf today with the exception of one hole, besides that he hit the ball great, and made a lot more putts drop today. 

"To hit the two shots he hit on 18 to put himself in position for an eagle really showed how much guts, heart and composure he has," added Saxon. "He has worked his butt off for this and deserves every bit of it."

Towanda's Graham Welles shot a 75 Tuesday for a two-day total of 167 to finish 37th, while Towanda's Boom Thompson shot an 80 for a two-day total of 162 to finish 56th.

Cowanesque Valley's Danny Smith shot a two-day total of 181 (86-95) to finish 71st.

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PHOTOS BY LANCE LARCOM.

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