The high school golf season will begin next week when the Lord Botetourt Cavaliers participate in the first Blue Ridge District “mini-match” of the season. The match will be held on Tuesday, July 31, at Ole Monterey.

LB will have tryouts on Monday, July 30, at the Botetourt Golf and Swim Club.  Players should report by 9 a.m., but won’t tee off until 10 a.m. Prospects will be playing 18 holes on the first day of tryouts.

Anyone interested must have an up-to-date VHSL physical and have attended the drug/alcohol/concussion meeting with the school. For questions email coach Todd Smith at tsmith@bcps.k12.va.us.

The Cavaliers will have five starters returning from last year, including seniors Brett Pennington, Joe Crump and Tucker Grimshaw. Pennington was All-District the past two years and Crump was All-District and a state qualifier last season. Junior Kyle Lograsso and sophomore Kaitlyn Mosdell are also returning starters.

LB will also be adding freshman Samir Davidov, who was on the team last year as an eighth grader but didn’t play in any matches since he wasn’t in high school. Logan Hollandsworth and Jacob Vance are sophomores who are returning from last year, working to get into some matches.

James River won’t play until August 6 when the Knights participate in the Heritage Invitational at London Downs in Lynchburg. River coach Donna Cox returns three starters, Mitchell Boone, Dakota Peery and Logan Honts.

Both county schools are entered in the annual Bob McLelland Metro Tournament on August 8 and 9. The first day will be at Blue Hills and the Botetourt Golf and Swim Club will host the second round.