Georgia teen golf prodigy dies after collapsing during homecoming prank

A 17-year-old golf prodigy died Monday after collapsing during a homecoming prank in Eastman, Georgia. Hadden Kelly, a junior at Dodge County High School, was found unresponsive in the yard of a home during a tp-ing incident and was pronounced dead Monday morning, authorities said. The Dodge County coroner, Joe Smith, said the cause of death was not yet known and autopsy results were pending.

Kelly was a star golfer at Dodge County High School and the team’s captain, widely regarded as the program’s top athlete. He had two top-10 finishes in 2025 Georgia tournaments, according to the Georgia State Golf Association, and was preparing to compete in an upcoming state tournament.

Friends and coaches described him as charismatic and outspoken, a leader who encouraged teammates and helped raise the level of the program. The Dodge County High School golf team posted on Facebook that Kelly loved golf and that the team surely loved him, noting he was their top-performing golfer who supported others.

Kelly also worked at the Dodge County golf club and was known for never meeting a stranger, according to family and school accounts. His death has shocked classmates, staff, and supporters of the program, and school officials offered condolences to his devastated family.

There are no words to express the sadness felt by the DCHS community, the district said in a statement Monday. It asked for prayers for Kelly’s family, friends, and the broader school community as investigators continue to determine the exact cause of death, with autopsy results pending.