On August 8, the George Mason High School varsity golf team kicked off their fall season at the Curly Licklider Invitational, and with a loaded lineup, set out on the season seeking to defend their first-ever Bull Run District championship.

Although the Mustangs finished 16th in a field of 22 schools at the tournament — 20 of whom were AA or AAA schools — some bright spots sparkled on the Shenandoah Valley Golf Club for Mason, led by rising junior Drew Davies.

Davies, golfing out of the second spot for Mason, led his squad with a career best 76, a score good enough to vault him to sixth place overall in the entire field of 132 golfers.

In the scorching heat, several other Mustangs managed to post impressive scores, suggesting that they will be hard pressed to be defeated in the Bull Run District this year.

A pair of rising sophomores in Evans Mandes and Mike Wolfe, the number three and five golfers for Mason, turned in scores of 90 and 89, respectively. Senior Mike Straub, the number one golfer for the Mustangs, also shot a 90.

Rounding out the team score of 345 was junior Chris An and sophomore Michael Duning, who shot a 97 and a 99 respectively.

Strasburg High, a member of the Bull Run along with Mason, was the only other single A school to participate in the event. The Mustangs dominated the Rams, who turned in a cumulative score of 384.

Albermarle High took home first place in the tournament with a score of 311, while there was a three-way tie for second place with Briar Woods, Potomac Falls and Western Albermarle each posting a score of 316.

Just a day after their impressive finish at the Invitational, Mason opened up its Bull Run District schedule in defense of their district title against Rappahannock County High.

The dual match at Bowling Green Country Club ended in a forfeit by the Panthers, giving the Mustangs an easy first victory on the district schedule.

Led by Davies and Straub, as well as the defending District Coach of the Year in Bill Broderick, the Mustangs battled Strasburg High School on their home Fairfax National course this past Tuesday. Results were not available at press time.