As spring sports wind down and attention begins to shift to summer vacation and eventually fall sports, prep golfers will have plenty of opportunities to play in tournaments to hone their skills for the 2021 campaign, which begins in early August.

The Mid Ohio Valley Junior Golf Summer Tour announced its schedule of events for the season, which begins on Friday, June 4.

The MOV Junior Golf Tour will have coed divisions and separate boys and girls divisions for the older kids.

The coed divisions will consist of ages 6-9 playing together for 9 holes with a caddie and ages 10-12 playing together for 18 holes with a caddie.

In the older divisions, ages 13-15 will play together, ages 16-18 will play together. Both groups will play without a caddie and there are separate age groups for boys and girls.

The entry fee for each tournament is $20 for 9 holes and $30 for 18 holes with the top three finishers in each age group receiving a medal.

The first event of the season will be held at Oxbow Golf Club. On June 11, the players will play at Lakeside Golf Course. After a couple of weeks off, the tour resumes at the Golf Club of West Virginia on June 30. On July 2, the tour makes its stop at Mingo Bottom Golf Club.

The final three events are are July 9 (at Woodbridge Golf Club), Monday, July 12 (at Cambridge Country Club) and Tuesday, July 20 is the season fin ale at Marietta Country Club.

For more information, please visit movjuniorgolf.com or call Eric Ketter at 740-350-0206.

PGA JUNIOR LEAGUE

Speaking of junior golf, the Belmont Hills Country Club will once again be holding its highly successful PGA Junior League, which starts later this month and runs through August.

The registration for the league costs $250 and includes practices, games and there is the possibility of having matches with some of the courses from the Pittsburgh area for the older division.

The program features a division for children ages 7-13 and 14-17. The program includes two practices per week and six matches against opposing teams that are established during the league, awards and an end-the-season pizza party.

The program is led by BHCC Club Professional Ron Baker along with Butch Brunner, Jaren Straight, Jacob Jeffries, Brendan Vucelich and Will Foster.

For more information on the league, contact Ron Baker at 740-310-9936.

CAPITAL CITY

AMATEUR TOUR

The Capital City Am Tour made a stop at Belmont Hills Country Club last weekend and players from Central Ohio found the hilly terrain of the St. Clairsville course quite challenging.

Actually, the event was called the “Test of Champions” and attracted 58 players.

Jim Pullins won the event by shooting a solid round of 75.

Broc Crist, who played his prep golf at St. Clairsville, finished 10th with an 82. Jade Waligura — a Buckeye Local graduate — was 17th with a round of 84.

WHEELING PARK GOLF CLUB

The Johnson Boiler Medal and Handicap scored event was held earlier this month.

Rich Humphrey prevailed with a round of 36. Mike Brickner also had a 36. Mark Maguire, Tony Coppa and Jim Druschel all signed for a round of 37.

The handicap scoring title went to Ryan Richmond with a round of 32. Bob Green was second with a 33. Dave Stauver posted a 34, which was the same number that Josh Green posted. Rich Colley, Dick Moore and Jim Wade all posted a round of 36.

PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

Golf’s second major champion of 2021 will be crowned one week from Sunday at the PGA Championship, which will be held at Kiawah Island Resort in South Carolina.

I look for Jon Rahm to break through and claim his first major championship.

OFF THE TEE

After a year’s hiatus, Off The Tee is back and is expected to run weekly in The Times Leader. Readers are encouraged to submit tournament results, league results, upcoming events, scrambles, aces, information about local products shining in the golf world. Basically, anything about golf is welcomed here. Please email me with information at sstaskey@timesleaderonline.com

UPCOMING SCRAMBLES

THE RIVER Lady Pilots volleyball team will hold a scramble on Saturday, May 22 at Riverside Golf Course in Sardis. The entry fee is $200 for a team of four players. The event will begin with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. and all day food and beverages will be available. There will be a BBQ dinner after the round. For more information, contact Perry Raper at 740-213-4359 or Beth Raper at 740-213-1883 or Judi Curtis at 304-771-5868.

THE INAUGURAL Special Wish Foundation Golf Scramble, sponsored by Trinity Health System, will be held on Saturday, May 22 at Fairway River Links in Rayland. The event will begin with a shotgun start at 7 a.m. The entry fee is $300 per team and it includes golf, cart, snacks, beverages, lunch and awards. Cash prizes will be given to the top three teams and various prizes and raffles will be also be held. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. For more information, please contact Annmarie O’Grady at aogrady@spwishov.com

THE BEALLSVILLE Lady Devils Basketball Boosters will hold a golf scramble on Saturday, May 15 at Switzerland of Ohio Country Club. The event will begin with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m.. The first 18 registered teams will be accepted. The cost is $60 per player or $240 per team. The entry fee includes skins, chicken dinner, which will be made by the First and Goal Club. Beverages and hot dogs will also be provided. For more information, contact Tori Lang at 740-213-1031.

A BELMONT County golf scramble to benefit the United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley is being planned for Friday, May 28 at Belmont Hills Country Club.

The event will begin with a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. and includes 18 holes, cart, lunch, drinks on the course, door prizes, and skill contests. The cost to enter a four-person team is $500. There are varying levels of sponsorships available, too. They range from platinum sponsor for $2,500 to hole sponsor for $150. The deadline to register is May 7. More information on the event can be found at unitedwayuov.org

THE ANNUAL Bellaire Touchdown Golf Scramble will be held on June 26 at Fairway River Links. The entry fee is $60 per person or $240 per team. The cost includes cart, lunch, beverages and a dinner after the scramble. Entry forms can be picked up at Gatto’s, Gulla’s and Around the Word Gourmet Marketplace (formerly Frizzi’s) in Bellaire and the Quick Stop in Neffs. For more information please call Bob at 740-676-5490 or Norm at 740-699-0313.