Valley Sports ReportSTATE COLLEGE — Junior Ty Owen and the Athens boys golf team opened the season with top-10 finishes here Thursday at the rugged Happy Valley Invitational, and freshman Lilah Carlson made an impressive debut in the girls field as well.
The Wildcats finished ninth in the 25-team field in the Class AA field with a four-player aggregate score of 334. Cathedral Prep won the team title via tiebreaker over Devon Prep. Both teams shot a 296. Towanda placed sixth with a 321.
Owen led Athens with a 1-over par round of 73 to finish ninth in the 103-player field. He shot 37 on the front nine, and an even-par 36 on the back nine.
Owen registered three birdies in his round, including back-to-back on the 161-yard, par-3 seventh hole, and the 507-yard par-5 eighth hole. He also carded a three on the 358-yard par-4 13th hole.
Sophomore Jacob Saxon shot an 83 (42-41) for the Wildcats, while senior Lucas Greninger, who birdied the 446-yard par-5 18th hole, carded an 87 (43-44), and senior Collin Congdon added a 91 (45-46).
Sophomore Boom Thompson shot a 74 to finish 11th in the individual standings and lead Towanda.
GIRLS
Carlson's first outing for the Lady Wildcats was an 8th-place finish with a round of 82.
She shot a 39 on the front nine and a 43 on the back nine, including a birdie on the 107-yard, par-3, 14th hole.
Junior Brooke Lyon finished 27th with a round of 96 (45-51).
Athens opens the regular season Tuesday at the Tioga Country Club in Wyalusing.
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IN PHOTO: Athens junior Ty Owen in action from last season. ... VSR STOCK PHOTO.
