Tee it high and watch it fly.

Such is the case for area prep golfers, who will begin their seasons this week at courses around the Ohio Valley.

While matches officially get under way soon, it’s at the end of the season and the stretch run when golfers want to be playing their best.

The Buckeye 8 Athletic League will once again play a 36-hole event. The opening round is scheduled for Aug. 19 at Cadiz Country Club and it will wrap up 11 days later at Belmont Hills Country Club.

That will set the stage for the OVAC Tournaments, which will once again be broken up over two days on two courses at Oglebay Park. The Class 1A/2A and 3A schools will compete at Crispin, while the 4A and 5A schools will compete at the Spiedel Course. Those events will be held on Sept. 10 for 1A/2A and 4A. The remaining classes will compete on Sept. 12.

The newly formed Mid Ohio Valley League will crown its first champion in golf on Sept. 17 at Switzerland Country Club.

The annual Ohio Valley Golf League Championship will conclude the regular season for the majority of area teams. It’s slated for Oglebay’s Crispin course on Sept. 19.

Those set the stage for the sectionals, which will be played the week of Sept. 23. Cambridge Country Club will host Division III, while Division II will once again be split between Cadiz and River Greens.

There’s been an increased number of girls golf players and teams. John Marshall, River, Shadyside, St. Clairsville and Union Local are all expected to field complete girls teams in the immediate area.

Here’s a capsule look at the teams that returned their information:

BARNESVILLE — The Shamrocks of veteran head coach Jerry Robinson had one of the most memorable seasons in the school’s history in 2018. The Shamrocks finished 20-0 in OVGL play, claimed the school’s first OVAC golf title in 35 years and advanced to the Division III district tournament.

Many of those key contributors are back, but Robinson knows if his team is to experience a similar amount of success the players will need to up their level of play.

“We got bumped up to Division II (in the state) this year, so the kids will have to raise their level of play as the competition gets better,” Robinson said. “The kids have played in tournaments all summer and are eager for the season to start.”

Headling the roster for the Shamrocks is defending Class 3A OVAC medalist Payne Johnson. He’s coming off a victory in the Honeywell Tournament at Moundsville Country Club has “set some lofty goals for himself,” according to his head coach.

Senior Jim Byler, who was an all-Eastern District second team selection, and sophomore Carter Wells will battle for the second and third spots. Sophomores Jude Hannahs and Dryden Bauman are ticketed for the fourth and fifth slots. Newcomers Breanna Flood, Brock Burkhart and Jerney Fox are all looking to get into the mix.

Robinson is being assisted by Nick Bauman.

BRIDGEPORT — Youth will be served as Jeff Herink begins his fifth season at the helm of the Bulldogs.

The roster features nary a senior and only four players total.

Juniors Adam Sommer and Cooper Dulesky will lead the way, while sophomores Ciaran Flannigan and Gabe Donahue will also contribute.

Bridgeport, which finished as OVAC runnerup in Class 1A/2A last season, will need to find a way to replace all OVAC and all-District performer Kevin Herink along with all-Eastern District player Angela Sommer, who is now competing at Marietta. Also gone is Jason Sommer.

“We will be a very young team that will be looking for improvement from match to match and week to week,” Herink said.

HARRISON CENTRAL — The Huskies found themselves on the doorstep several times last season, but just couldn’t seem to get over the hump.

As Todd Dunlap begins his 14th season at the helm, he welcomes back a veteran and talented squad that includes five lettermen.

“Our team returns a solid group from last year’s team and looks to build upon back-to-back district tournament berths,” Dunlap said. “We have some guys who should provide us with consistent numbers and the others are more than capable of shooting low scores as well. If we come together and play to our potential, our team goals are definitely within reach.”

Leading the list of returnees is senior Cruz Capers, who was first-team all Buckeye 8 and all-OVAC last yar. He’s joined by Nick Coffland, the Huskies’ 2018 leader in pars, and junior Sam Santille, who was second-team all-Buckeye 8 and led the team in scoring average and birdies.

Seniors Jacob Hudson and Jory Marvin are both returning multiple-year lettermen.

According to Dunlap, the final varsity spot is a battle between senior Hayden Wallace, junior Trevor Thompson and sophomore Aiden Sliva.

Dunlap isn’t ruling out sophomores Clayton Everhart and Jacob Mattern as well as frosh Wyatt Foreman from cracking the varsity lineup.

JOHN MARSHALL — Dave Gaudino begins another season with the Monarch program with a “veteran team and high expectations.”

The Monarchs will be led by senior Cody Sprowls, who is coming off a season in which he averaged 83.5 as a senior. Junior Matthew Douglas will be in the number two spot.

Sophomore Mason Orndorff is expected to be the number three man. Battling for the other spots are senior Adam Miller, senior Cody Grall and senior Brandon Harrison. Freshman Colton Sprowls is expected to make an impact at the varsity level, too.

Sophomores Nick Sessums and Aiden Young along with freshmen Ty Cox, Alex Harbert, Quentin Richmond and Dylan Wood are also vying.

The Monarchs will once again field a full girls team. They one of just six schools to sponsor a full girls team.

However, Gaudino will need to find a replacement for key contributors Clarissa Edgar, Avery Wood and Emily Nelson. All of whom were four-year regulars for the Monarchs.

Returning are five letter winners, including junior Lakyn Parker, who placed 15th in the SSAC State Tournament.

Sophomore Lauren Tekely was 16th in the state last fall. Three sophomores — Savannah Richards and twin sisters April and Bethany Scraber — are also expected to log varsity rounds.

Senior Savannah Wood, sophomore Sydney Coss, freshmen Megan Huff and Paige Messner are newcomers to the program.

Gaudino is assisted by Bridget Carnahan and Gus Hanson.

LINSLY — The expectations are always up surrounding the Cadets program and this year the numbers match it.

No fewer than 24 players are out for Coach Mark Landini’s squad.

“I believe this is the largest golf roster in the school’s history,” Landini said. “We didn’t graduate any one.”

Leading the Cadets will be junior Ryan Dembiczak, who was all-OVAC in 2017. Junior Daniel Dunlevy was all-OVAC in 2018 and will also be one of the Linsly leaders.

Senior A.J. Nairn, junior Geno Bisboci and junior Aidan Grubler will round out the top five.

The balance of the roster includes: seniors Evan Carlisle, Nick Claus, Sri Doupaty, Bernie Suchoza, Marshall Taylor, Aleander Yang and Julie Zhu.

The junior class includes: Holden Farnsworth, Luke Hillebrand, Blake McNeely, Philip Redford and Jacob Richards.

The sophomores include: Jayden Howard, Caleb Murray and Phil Naum.

The freshmen are Luke Miller, Brenden Moore, Connor Roberts and Codin Walker.

“My varsity players have all been playing a lot over the summer and working on their games,” Landini said. “We’ve been OVAC runnerup the past two years, so I’m hopeful with another year under their belt, this will be our season.”

MARTINS FERRY — The Purple Riders begin the fifth year of the Mike Beck tenure with a veteran cast in place.

Ferry returns its top four golers from a season ago and have added two players who Beck believes have potential to contribute.

“The kids have all worked hard through the summer and I am looking forward to them improving throughout the season,” Beck said.

Leading the way for the Riders is junior Luke Krol. Coming off a brilliant sophomore season, Krol narrowly missed a berth in the Division II State Tournament. He was an all-District and all Times Leader performer.

“Luke is our anchor,” Beck said. “He plays pretty much all year round and loves the game. I know he has big goals for this season, individually, but he also wants the team to do well and is constantly trying to help his teammates improve. I’m looking for another great season from him.”

Senior Chuckie Schau returns, but his work this summer has been limited. He’s currently in Missouri at boot camp as he prepares to enlist in the United States Army after graduation.

Junior Noah Kovalesky has continued to be on an upward swing and will be the third Rider player. Junior Cole Olinski is entering just his second year of golf, but Beck has liked the progress he’s made.

The two aforementioned newcomers are freshan Rocky Schau and junior James Blazey.

The lone Rider to be lost to graduation was Jacob Ward.

RIVER — The Pilots will field separate and full boys and girls teams once again this season.

Blaze Amos begins his second season as the head coach of the boys’ squad with five players on the roster.

However, River must replace a pair of four-year lettermen in Ridge Thompson and Logan Alleman, who garnered honorable mention all Eastern District.

“This season will be one that is focused on improvement and gaining knowledge of the game,” Amos said. “We have a couple of older guys who I’m looking to step up and take over to battle for the top spot. I am also looking for them to be leaders and help our new golfers in the beginning to get comfortable and learn the little things about the game.”

Amos believes sophomore Chase Siburt will be playing in the number one position. Junior Daniel Swegard will man the second spot, while freshman Grady Palmer is third. Freshman Landon Schultheis is penciled in for the fourth slot, while junior Jagger Knight is the fifth player.

“Overall I am looking for improvement this year and having no seniors I believe this puts us in a position to start making long term gains,” Amos continued.

The River girls team is once again under the direction of Justin Fetty.

The Lady Pilots have six players out for the team, but must find a way to replace the graduated Sierra Knowlton, who is now palying at Ohio Valley University in Parkersburg. Also lost via graduation was Tabitha Straub.

Because of that, Fetty believes this could be a “rebuilding year.”

“Although we return five players from a year ago, three of the five have minimal playing experience,” Fetty said. “Scoring will come with experience and expectations come with experience.”

Leading the way for the Pilots will be seniors Olivia Romick and Brooke Johnson. Sophomores Autumn Ensinger, Sierra Littleton and Serena Lude will be joined by freshman Fay Salisbury.

“Olivia and Autumn will be battling for the number one honors on the team,” Fetty said.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Ryan Clifford takes over the reins of the tradition-laden Red Devils’ golf program from Caden Myers, who was the head coach for one season.

Clifford inherits a team that claimed the Buckeye 8 and OVAC titles last season before advancing to the Division II district tournament.

However, gone from that team are its top three performers — Jacob Jeffries, Brendan Vucelich and Broc Crist.

Thus, Clifford and the Devils will rely on sophomores Saul Crist and Will Foster, both of whom were members of the St. C. top five a year ago.

“We will lean heavily, especially early in the season, on Will and Saul,” Clifford said. “They gained valuable experience a year ago.”

The balance of the roster includes: senior Joey Patrizi, junior Aydem King, sophomore Aiden Moran, freshmen Brior Reynolds, Hunter Toplovich, Chas Anderson and Brycen Vucelich.

Again, the Red Devils will sponsor a girls’ team, too with five players competing.

Sophomore Brooke Chamberlain is the top returning player along with junior Breanne Sproul. Others in the mix are sophomores Amanda Yates, Lexee David and Kya Forte.

“I really believe even though they are young, Brooke and Breanne have a lot of experience and are primed for a good year,” Clifford said.

SHADYSIDE — Numbers are up and so is the level of excitement surrounding Tigers’ golf as head coach Lisa Balog begins another season at the helm.

“This is by far our bigges turnout for golf,” Balog said. “I see a lot of potential with this group. We’re excited to begin the season.”

The top returnees for the boys squad are senior Nico Bumba and senior Logan Giangelli.

Newcomers to the team include: seniors Nick Murphy, Robbie McFarland Kyle Brown; sophomores Ryan Crall, Jacob James and Cameron Davis.

“As far as playing positions, we’ll see how the first match goes and take it from there,” Balog stressed. “I have several boys who I feel could play and contribute to the team during matches, and I would like to give them that opportunity.”

Shadyside will once again sponsor a full girls team, too.

Senior Kaylee Savage, juniors Karleigh Clegg and Megan Price will join sophomore Grace Green, who is coming off a strong freshman season in which she captured the medalist in the Girls Ohio Valley Tournament at Riverside.

“For the most part, the girls are new to the game,” Balog said. “They’ve been working hard to get prepared for the season and are getting better each week. I expect a lot of great things from Grace this year.”

UNION LOCAL — After getting thrust into duty in the middle of last season, Zach Delman is set for his first full season as the Jets head coach and boasts a roster 10 boys and five girls.

“Our numbers are definitely up,” Delman said. “Last year, we only had five kids and didn’t have a senior on the roster. I’m still learning the ropes of the golf world and I’m just looking to see our kids continually cut strokes off their scores and hopefully they’ll be playing their best at the end of the season.”

Of that number, three of the Jets players — senior Aiden Shugert, junior Sam Farmer and sophomore Brenna Perkins — earned a letter last season.

The remainder of the boys squad includes: juniors Graham Davis, Kolby Smolira, freshmen Braden Porter, D.J. Butts, Tre Rex, Landon Crum, Rylan Luyster and Logan Perkins.

On the girls’ side, along with Perkins, the Jets feature Jayden Noel, junior Eva Wood, sophomore Alesha Noel and sophomore Savanna White.

“This will be the first time we have our own girls team to my knowledge,” Delman said. “Only Brenna has played golf before, but we know they will gain great experience this season and just hope they can make steady progress.”

Delman is being assisted by Doug Butts.

WHEELING CENTRAL — The Maroon Knights have set the standard of championships and despite a youthful roster, Coach Jim Mortakis expects his team to be right in the thick of the chase for the OVAC, regional and state tournaments.

“We will compete well,” Mortakis said of his team that lost individual state champion Derrick Harrison as well as Matt Mazur, Zach Mazur and Ashton Kepple.

Leading the list of returnees is all-state and all-OVAC player J.C. Maxwell. He’ll be complemented by sophomore Peyton Carpenter, sophomore Gavin Beresh, freshman Justin Doerr, freshman Ryan Costanzo and freshman Jimmy Brogan.