VALLEY SPORTS REPORT: ATHENS' HICKS NAMED 'GOLFER OF THE YEAR;' TIOGA'S BOMBARD, ATHENS' LYON ALSO EARN ALL-VALLEY TOP HONORS (2026-06-18)

Valley Sports Report
THE VALLEY — Athens junior Eli Hicks was a District 4, Class 3A runner-up and state qualifier to earn the 2025-26 Valley Sports Report All-Valley "Golfer of the Year" honors.

Tioga junior Jackson Bombard made an instant impact on the links this spring and is the "Newcomer of the Year," and Athens sophomore Brooke Lyon is the "Girls Golfer of the Year."

Hicks led the NTL with a 79.2 scoring average this season, including a low round of 75.

Hicks led the District 4, Class AAA Championships after a Day 1 round of 74, bur finished second to punch is ticket to the PIAA Championships with a two-day total of 152.

At States, Hicks shot matching rounds of 79 to finish 51st with a two-day total of 158.

Bombard, a standout on the Tioga baseball team as a freshman and sophomore, led the Tiger golf squad to the Section IV, Class C team championships, and qualified for the Section IV Individual Championships.

Bombard averaged a plus-6.4 per nine, roughly a 42.4, including a low round of plus-2 37 at Shepard Hills.

Bombard shot an 88 at the Class C team championships, and a 96 at the Individual Championship.

Lyon finished the season with a 103 scoring average, but shot rounds of 85, a school record, and 86.  

She finished seventh at the District 4 Girls Championships.

2025-26 All-Valley Golf Super 7:
Eli Hicks, junior, Athens: See above.

Ty Owen, sophomore, Athens: Owen was second in the NTL with a scoring average of 79.5, including a low round of 76. 

He won the NTL Championship tournament with a round of 76 at Corey Creek, and finished third at the District 4 Championships with a two-day total of 157 (82-75).

Griff Walter, sophomore, Waverly: Walter averaged 40.85 per nine holes, including three rounds of 38 (at Shepard Hills, Golden Oak in Windsor, and the Golf Club at Owego.)

Walter qualified for the Section IV Individual Championships and shot a 91.

Jack Bombard, junior, Tioga: See above.

Lucas Greninger, junior, Athens: Greninger finished the season 10th in the NTL with an 86.2 scoring average, including a low round of 84. 

He was 10th at the NTL Championships with an 86, and finished 10th at the District 4 Championships, missing the cut by two strokes with a round of 87.
 
Gavin Kithcart, junior, Tioga: Another first-year player for the Tigers, Kithcart averaged a plus-8.4 per nine, roughly a 44.4 scoring average.

His low round on the season was a plus-2 37 at Shepard Hills.

Owen Seaver, senior, Tioga: Seaver averaged a plus-8.6, roughly a 44.6 scoring average, including a low round of 40 at Catatonk Golf Course.

Honorable Mention
Jacob Saxon, freshman, Athens: Saxon averaged 91.3, which was 17th in NTL. He had a low round of 86.

Daniel Brady, sophomore, Waverly: Brady averaged 46.08 per nine holes, including a low round of 40 at Golden Oak in Windsor.