High school golf season begins Thursday in the WPIAL. Here is a breakdown of the top boys teams and players to watch this fall.

Class 3A

Teams

Defending WPIAL champion: South Fayette (385)

Defending PIAA champion: Abington Heights (286)

Favorite: Peters Township returns five of six starters from a team that finished sixth in the WPIAL. The Indians have the talent to chase after their eighth WPIAL title overall and first since 2023. Camden Reyes, Jackson Baxter and Tyler Odrejko are key seniors.

Others to watch: Fox Chapel was the runner-up and brings back individual champion Carson Kittsley. The Foxes must replace three seniors but usually don’t have trouble restocking the lineup. … Moon has three senior starters returning and could make a title push. … North Allegheny finished third but must replace five starters. … Seniors Mike Pifer and Sam Schneck will power Pine-Richland. … West Allegheny features juniors Nico Ward and Ethan Boborski.

Individuals

Defending WPIAL champion: Carson Kittsley, Fox Chapel (66-68-134)

Defending PIAA champion: Carson Kittsley, Fox Chapel (70-66-136)

Top players: It wouldn’t make much sense to pick against Kittsley, a Penn State commit who finished a combined 16-under-par in winning WPIAL and PIAA titles (8-under in both tournaments). He won back-to-back state titles. The senior can go low and has a knack for maintaining leads. … Nico Ward, a junior from West Allegheny, finished third in the WPIAL (even) and tied for sixth at states (+1). Another junior, Ty Hartman of Thomas Jefferson, took fifth in the WPIAL (+2) and tied for ninth at the PIAA tournament (+2). … Others who could return to the WPIAL finals are senior Mike Pifer of Pine-Richland, junior Bailey Donahue of Central Catholic, junior Baron Bitar of Fox Chapel and senior Joey Boff of Bethel Park.

Class 2A

Teams

Defending WPIAL champion: Shady Side Academy (393)

Defending PIAA champion: Scranton Prep (282)

Favorite: With all six starters back from its WPIAL championship lineup, Shady Side Academy is the frontrunner. Seniors Alex Avi (71), Jack Begg (78) and John DiBaralomec all shot in the 70s in the finals. Juniors Jay Mohn and Dusyanth Parames also can produce low scores.

Others to watch: Elizabeth Forward finished second and only has to replace one senior starter. Senior Aaron Didjunas leads the Warriors. … Keep an eye out for Avonworth, which was only three strokes behind Elizabeth Forward and has its complete starting lineup back, including junior Chase Hogan and senior Andrew Hetcko. … Beaver made the finals with a young lineup and still have junior Owen Honey and sophomore Jordan Bello. … Seniors Chris Faber and Dylan Murray are back for North Catholic.

Individuals

Defending WPIAL champion: *Jonah Schollaert, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (69-75-144)

Defending PIAA champion: Cole Powell, Scranton Prep (68-69-137)

Top players: Greensburg Salem junior Luke Sikora made a strong postseason charge and finished second in the WPIAL and third in the PIAA. Sikora made six holes-in-one in a 12-month span over the summer. He is a slight favorite in a jam-packed field. … Riverview senior Ian Stempfer took third in the WPIAL, while other top-10 finishers included Sewickley Academy sophomore Trey Susa, Shady Side Academy senior Alex Avi, Neshannock senior Rocco Bautti, Riverview senior Rex Roberts, Chaleroi junior Levi Large and seniors Chris Farber of North Catholic, Christian Cappetta of Deer Lakes and Jamin Brock of Bishop Canevin. Bautti tied for fifth at the state tournament.

*Graduated

Important dates

Aug. 10 – First practice date

Aug. 13 – First play date

Sept. 21-24 – Individual section tournaments

Sept. 28-30 – WPIAL individual championship first round; Class 3A at Hannastown Golf Club; Class 2A at (TBA)

Oct. 2 – Team playoff pairings announced

Oct. 5-7 – WPIAL 2A individual championship final round at Sewickley Heights Country Club

Oct. 6 – WPIAL 3A individual championship final round at Oakmont Country Club

Oct. 8-9 – WPIAL team semifinals (sites TBA)

Oct. 13 – WPIAL team championships, Cedarbrook Golf Course

Oct. 19-20 – PIAA individual championships, Penn State

Oct. 21 – PIAA team championships, Penn State