The Lord Botetourt and James River golf teams opened the season at home last week as the Botetourt Golf & Swim Club played host to the annual Botetourt Metro Tournament.
Blacksburg High ran away and hid from the competition, dominating the 17-team Metro with a team score of 288. The Bruins had three scores of 73 or better on the par 71 course, including a four-under 67 by medalist Jake Albert. Auburn was second at 315 followed by Christiansburg at 318, Patrick Henry at 321 and Franklin County in fifth at 323.
Lord Botetourt tied Hidden Valley for sixth place at 324. The Cavaliers were led by Jeremy Simmons, who shot 78. Also scoring for LB were Aiden Mitchell and Hayden Firestone at 81 each and Garrett Honts at 84.
“The Metro wasn’t awful, but by no means was it our best,” said LB coach Todd Smith. “We can play a lot better, and hopefully we’ve gotten the first tournament jitters out of the way. To come in sixth out of 17 teams is okay, but we want more than that.”
James River did not field a full team but had two good individual scores as Landon Bolling and Mason Gilliland shot two-over 73 each.
A day later River traveled to the Olde Mill course in Laurel Fork for a Three Rivers District match hosted by Carroll County. Gilliland overcame a three-hole trouble streak to finish with four birdies and shoot a 75, and Bolling shot a 78 on the difficult course. Floyd County was the team winner and Glenvar was second.
On Monday of this week the Knights were at Great Oaks for a district match and the host Buffaloes were first again with a 303, followed by Glenvar 343.
River shot a four-player total of 379 with Gilliland leading the team with 75. That was one stroke behind co-medalists Peyton Mason and Jonathan Whitlow of Floyd.
Bolling was just one stroke behind Gilliland with a 76. Also playing for River were Elizabeth Francis and Mason Francis.
River will be back in action Thursday as it’s the Knights turn to host. A shotgun start will commence at 1 p.m. at the Botetourt Golf & Swim Club. Next Monday the Knights are at The Homestead.
Lord Botetourt was scheduled to play at Ole Monterey in Roanoke Tuesday in the first Blue Ridge District match, hosted by William Fleming, but results were too late for publication. Next Tuesday, August 20, Franklin County will host the BRD.
