Golf Preview

Most of the region's top teams are reloading after several elite players graduated. Preseason tournaments have done little to sort out this season's hierarchy, with many top players competing on summer tours before returning to their high school teams.

Perhaps the most notable performer thus far has been Forest Park senior Joe Buttgereit. He finished first in the Charger Challenge at Virginia Oaks and then shot a two-round total of 135, 9-under par, to win the 15-team William Marshall Invitational at Quantico. ... Oakton's junior Amanda Steinhagen, the Virginia girls' defending champion, finished second at Quantico after placing first in the Stafford Invitational. ... Despite playing without standout Brigitte Baker, who was playing in a junior tournament, Langley was the Charger Challenge team champion; Loudoun Valley was second. ...

The Concorde District remains loaded, with Oakton, Chantilly, Westfield and Centreville. The Northern Region defending champion, Chantilly, must replace All-Met Jake An, with sophomore Ji Soo Park and junior Victor Monte^ moving up to the top of the lineup. ... Westfield features Brian Keith. Westfield and Chantilly are competing in the Virginia State Golf Association's Independence Invitational that begins today. ... Centreville, after some tough seasons, appears to be bouncing back. In three tournaments, the Wildcats have finished second twice and won the Bryan Gunter Memorial Tournament in Winchester last week as Noori Hyun made a birdie putt on the final hole to win the individual title. With junior Matt Woodworth and senior Cameron Stark, Centreville should be strong at the top of its lineup. ...

Across the Potomac River, Whitman has just one player, senior Steven Fisher, back from the team that ended Churchill's five-year run as state champions. He'll be helped by junior Alex Rhea. ... The consensus is that Wootton could be the top team in Montgomery County, led by senior Andrew Stein, sophomore Connor Tendall and senior Brian Hollins. ... Maryland defending champion Alex Hoffman is back to lead Middletown in Frederick County. ...

North Point should challenge La Plata in the Southern Maryland Athletic Conference. Senior Jay Dove is La Plata's No.1 golfer, and both teams will be helped by two of the area's top girls: La Plata senior Danielle Wathen and North Point junior Mackenzie Cutter. ...

Also returning is Arundel senior Lauren Smith, the 2006 Maryland girls' champion. Arundel finished second in last week's Anne Arundel Fall Preview to South River, which prevailed despite the absence of Josh Eure. Sophomore Garrett Harding finished second to help the Seahawks to the team title. ... Severna Park junior Jamie Lynch, whose older sister Kelly was an All-Met player, shot 74-79 -- 153 to win the individual title.

-- Josh Barr

PLAYER TO WATCH

Josh Eure, South River, Senior

A two-time All-Met, Eure is the most accomplished returning public school player. He won the Maryland individual championship as a sophomore, tied for fourth place last season and is considered one of the state favorites. He also won his second consecutive Maryland State Golf Association junior championship this past summer, shooting 7-under par for two rounds at Andrews Air Force Base.

KEY DATES

Oct.13-14: Virginia A championship, Clear Creek Golf Course, Bristol

Oct.13-14: Virginia AA championship, Old Trail Golf Club, Crozet

Oct.20-21: Virginia AAA championship, Independence Golf Club, Midlothian

Oct.21-23: Maryland championship, Potomac Ridge, Waldorf

Oct.27-28: Virginia Girls Open, Williamsburg National Golf Club