The annual Bob McLelland Metro Golf Tournament will tee off today with a 1 pm start at the Hunting Hills Country Club. The two-day event will move to Blue Hills for an 11:30 am start on Thursday.

Both the Salem and Glenvar teams will be involved in the 12 team tournament.  Blacksburg is the favorite as the Bruins were the Group 3A state champion last year and have their entire lineup returning. Hidden Valley also has a strong team and Franklin County figures to finish high.

Salem should be competitive. The Spartans opened the River Ridge District season last week in Pulaski County and finished a strong third behind Blacksburg and Hidden Valley. The Bruins shot a team score of 300, Hidden Valley shot 310 and Salem carded 319. Host Pulaski was next at 329.

Junior Makena Witt led Salem with a 78. It was the first time Makena led the scoring for the Spartans and the first time ever that a girl had the low score for Salem in a match.

Garrison Conner was a stroke behind at 79, followed by Brian Hutton at 80. Daniel Poff closed out the Salem scoring at 82 and Johnny Danstrom was next at 83. Ross Funderburke of  Hidden Valley had the low score of the day at 70.

Salem was scheduled to play in the Heritage Invitational at London Downs in Lynchburg on Monday, but that event was rained out. It attracts over 20 teams, and no makeup date was announced.

The Spartans are back at Hunting Hills for a district match next Monday.