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Fox Chapel’s Kittsley bounces back, wins WPIAL golf title

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Monday, September 29, 2025 | 8:59 PM

Carson Kittsley was not about to let history repeat itself.

For the second consecutive year, the Fox Chapel junior was leading the WPIAL Class 3A golf championship heading into the final round.

Kittsley opened last year’s final round with a triple-bogey and ended up tying for fourth. Peters Township senior Colton Lusk shot a 5-under-par 67 and won the tournament.

But Monday, the returning PIAA champion did not have that bad start and pulled away on the back nine to win the title.

Kittsley shot a 2-under 68 at Butler Country Club and finished at 8-under. Kittsley shot a 6-under Sept. 22 at Willowbrook Country Club.

“It meant a lot to get off to a good start,” Kittsley said. “I had something to prove. I am proud of how I played.

“I started out slower and picked it up on the back nine. I hit a lot of good shots, but my putts were not dropping. It was nice to get a birdie on No. 10.”

He sank a 40-footer for birdie on No. 11 and added another birdie on No. 12.

“It was definitely nice to win,” Kittsley said, “I would like to repeat as PIAA champion.”

Kittsley said he worked on the mental part of his game.

“I have come along way,” Kittsley said. “I can now focus on what I can control and not get caught up in what other people are doing. So that definitely helps out a lot for me.”

He began his back nine with a comfortable lead and quickly extended it with birdies of Nos. 10, 11 and 12. He finished with six consecutive pars.

Latrobe senior Jack Sacriponte finished second at 2-under. He shot even par, which included a 4-under 31 on the back nine.

Sacriponte began the round in third place, four shots back of Kittsley. But he could not make up ground.

“I was hitting the ball well and putting myself in good positions, but I could not make any putts,” Sacriponte said. “I played a lot better on the back nine, and it was nice to finish second.”

Sacriponte birdied four of his final seven holes to claim the silver medal. The bronze medal went to West Allegheny sophomore Nico Ward, who shot a 2-over 72 and ended up even par.

Placing fourth with a strong back nine was Kiski Area senior Max Mottura (1-over), who got off to a rough start but finished four birdies in his final 10 holes.

Mottura did not play well on the front nine but turned things around with a birdie on No. 9.

“After the eighth hole, I asked myself how badly I wanted it, and if I wanted it bad enough. I started attacking, and birdies fell.” Mottura said. “It was a great comeback for me.”

Fifth place went to Thomas Jefferson sophomore Ty Hartman, who finished 2-over.

The top 14 golfers advance to the PIAA championships Oct. 20-21 at Penn State.

Finishing sixth was North Allegheny senior Ravi Desai (4-over). Tied for seventh were South Fayette senior Brady Newman (5-over), Pine-Richland junior Mike Pifer (5-over), South Fayette junior Sam Bishop (5-over) and Central Catholic sophomore Bailey Donahue (5-over). Placing 11th was North Allegheny senior Colin Ward (6-over), ending up 12th was Fox Chapel sophomore Baron Bitar (8-over) and tying for 13th were Kiski Area sophomore Brady Jankowski (9-over) and Bethel Park junior Joey Boff (9-over).

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

More High School Golf

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• Local junior golfers selected for state developmental team
• Promising Sewickley Academy freshman makes 1st WPIAL golf headlines
• Plum golfers cap season at WPIAL tournament
• Fox Chapel’s Carson Kittsley joins elite company with 2nd state golf title

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