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With the Class 4A/3A Maryland State Golf Tournament slated to tee off Tuesday at Potomac Ridge Golf Course in Waldorf, it's time to recap the county's major plotlines throughout the past six weeks.

The story begins with Wootton, far and away the best team in the county throughout the fall. The Patriots (18-1) not only finished atop the top-flight Yachmetz Division with a 193.33 stroke average, but also cruised to a District 2 title, shooting a 299: 14 better than second-place Churchill.

Keying Wootton's exceptional season has been balance; each of its boys was remarkably consistent, and on the rare occasions one had an off-day, another was able to pick up the slack. The Patriots will send their top four to states.

At the district tournament earlier this month, seniors Dylan Skarupa and Brian Hollins three-over-par rounds of 74 to finish tied for second. Fellow senior Andrew Stein's 75 placed him third in the county's state-qualifying tournament.

Sophomore Connor Tendall finished just behind with a 76, and his other contributions have been impressive, as well. Through six matches, he's leading the county with a 36.5 stroke average, 0.25 ahead of Stein.

On the girls side, Elizabeth Luu shot a 94 at districts to give the Patriots five state qualifiers overall.

"It's our turn," said Wootton coach Erin Williams. "It's more mental, especially when you're looked at as the favorite. You always have to worry about Churchill, but I'm just worried about our four."

The only team with more state qualifiers is the aforementioned Churchill, which will send a whopping eight golfers to next week's two-day event. The Bulldogs didn't dominate the county like they have since 2002, when they won five straight state championships and six district crowns. But several solo achievements give them plenty to hang their hats on.

At districts, senior Gary Raizon and junior Diana Brown accomplished something that's never happened before in county history: each won gold medals for the second year in a row.

Raizon shot 71 and Brown 78, marking the first time one school has had repeat girls and boys champions. A year ago, Brown tied older sister Alex — who now plays at Bucknell (Pa.) University — for top honors, while Raizon shot another 71 to beat Stein by a stroke.

Raizon, Marc Youngentob, Nader Shishechi and Bradley Rotter will go to states on the boys side. All four Bulldogs girls — Brown, Pritha Goswami, Lindsey Gould and Sonia Gaur — reached states, as well, and finished with top-10 overall scores for the season.

"The season has so far been a success, I think," said Churchill coach Mike Fisher. "Wootton has had the strongest team but we have two individuals who have done something that's never done before, and we have a lot of people at states. Our team is peaking and we'd like to be the Whitman of this year. Remember, Whitman barely got into states last year and then it all came together."

Last year, the Vikings didn't have the regular-season performances like the Bulldogs, but in winning the 4A/3A title, shot a state-record 596. If there is to be a déj‡ vu next week, Bethesda-Chevy Chase could provide it. Like the Vikings of a year ago, the Barons had a rough regular season, finishing in sixth place (7-11) in the Yachmetz.

But also like Whitman's 2007 squad, the Barons appear to be peaking at the right time. At districts, they shot a 319, edging Whitman by just two strokes to qualify. They will be led at states by senior Wagner Wiegand, the team's low scorer with a 39.83 stroke average, along with freshman Richard McBride.

"It's pretty exciting," said B-CC coach Bob Sheridan. "I'm very pleased it did come together, because there have been other years where the fellows thought we'd qualify as team and did not."

Two of the county's other top performers have come from the Kohut Division. Springbrook's Ritchie Steinwand topped the division and placed third overall in the county with a 37.80 stroke average, while on the girls side, Richard Montgomery freshman Karishna Thiagaraj placed second at districts, just one stroke behind Brown with a 79.

Teams to watch: Wootton (17-1), Churchill (14-4), Bethesda-Chevy Chase (7-11)

Individuals to watch: Gary Raizon (Churchill, Sr.), Andrew Stein (Wootton, Sr.), Diana Brown (Churchill, Sr.)

2007 highest state finisher: Whitman (1st place, 596)

2007 highest individual finisher: Louis Spear, Whitman (143, 4th place)