In the Fox Chapel Area boys golf team’s first scrimmage with Shady Side Academy, coach Joe Farrell used 10 golfers who combined for an impressive one over par.
“Everybody really played well,” said the third-year coach. “I had seven guys (shoot) in the 30s. I’m really deep this year. We’re good. I knew we were going to be.”
The team has a little bit of everything.
There is senior leadership with Matt Begg and Davis Kittsley. Davis finished fourth in the WPIAL individual championship in 2023.
There’s also talented underclassmen.
Sophomore Carson Kittsley, Davis’s younger brother, and junior David DiGregory are also expected to be key contributors on the links this season. Carson finished 52nd in the 2023 PIAA tournament. David has notched some victories on the Isaly’s Junior Tour this summer.
“He’s playing really well,” coach Farrell said of Carson. “He’s on kind of a hot streak.”
Other key team members include juniors Griffin McCaffrey and Grady Johnson, and freshman Barron Bitar, whose brother Scott won the Class 3A WPIAL championship in 2019.
The Foxes are coming off a season in which they won their third consecutive section championship, sharing the Class 3A Section 8 title with Shaler. The Foxes amassed a 9-1 section record, 11-3 record overall, and finished third in the WPIAL tournament.
While the Foxes expect tough competition throughout the season, coach Farrell said it’s a different kind of competition that will be a key to success.
“The competition between my own kids will make them a better team,” coach Farrell said. “The competition to be in the top six between these guys is going to be what makes them better. The kids will grind their scores. It will be a lot of work for my kids to get into that top six.”
As for the competition from other schools, coach Farrell said defending champion Peters Township looks to be good again this season. North Allegheny, Central Catholic, and Pine-Richland could also be teams to watch.
“There are a lot of good high school players out there,” coach Farrell said. “It will be interesting to see if teams are as deep as we are. It will be very interesting to see how we compete – very interesting.”
There’s also a lot of optimism, especially with the depth the Foxes will have on the course for each match this season.
“It ought to be a good season,” coach Farrell said. “I’m looking forward to it. We’re excited. We have good senior leadership and we’ve got guys that can perform. It ought to be fun to watch.”