STEADY AS HE GOES

Devon Prep’s Ciocca rides “boring” golf to player of the year honors

“I do a pretty good job of staying calm on the course and I never get too high or low, and that helps under pressure situations.” – Devon Prep golfer Nick Ciocca.

BERWYN >> When it comes to competitive golf, it’s not a bad thing for your game to be described as boring. It may sound a bit counterintuitive, but certainly not in Nick Ciocca’s case.

A junior at Devon Prep, on the golf course Ciocca is even-keeled and super consistent. There are very few, if any, blow-up holes and no verbal outbursts. And the Berwyn resident has already established himself as the most accomplished golfer ever to attend Devon Prep. He is also the 2022 Daily Local News Player of the Year.

“Nick’s game is kind of boring golf,” admitted his head coach Tony Ball. “He hits it down the middle off the tee, and yes it is very far, but his short game is so good. That’s where he really thrives. If he’s not on a green in regulation, he is getting up-anddown (for par).”

Seemingly steady and poised at all times, Ciocca culminated a remarkable season this fall by capturing the PIAA 2A Individual Championship. A year ago, he helped guide the Tide to a state team title. And he still has another season to go in high school.

“I do a pretty good job of staying calm on the course and I never get too high or low, and that helps under pressure situations,” Ciocca said.

“I think I’ve become more fundamentally sound over the last couple years. I feel the strongest part is my mental game – I have experience playing in a lot of tournaments. This fall I think I won a

PETE BANNAN - DAILY LOCAL NEWS Devon Prep Nick Ciocca’s consistency helped him retain his Catholic League title.

PETE BANNAN - DAILY LOCAL NEWS Devon Prep’s Nick Ciocca is the DLN’s boys golfer of the year.