AHS golfers earn 3rd straight trip to state tourney
The Albany Lions golf team is headed to the Class 2A state tournament for the third year in a row after finishing third at the Region II-2A tournament.
Albany, which finished third at state last year, will tee up Monday-Tuesday, April 29-30 at Lions Municipal Golf Course in Austin for this year’s state tournament.
The II-2A tournament was held Monday-Tuesday, April 15-16 at Old Brickyard Golf Course at Ferris. The Lions shot 313-320–633 to finish behind Lindsay (305-309–614) and Haskell (312-303–615).
“We’ve been moving forward on a survive-and-advance basis,” Lion coach Tate Thompson said. “Each day, we had somebody put up a low score, and everybody maintained where they were.”
Albany finished the first round just a shot back of Haskell, which topped the Lions for the District 10-3A title, but the Lions lost 17 strokes to the Indians in the final round. Albany held a 10-stroke edge on Tioga, which fell back to seventh place.
“Leads don’t really matter,” Thompson said. “It’s a matter of putting up two solid rounds each day. We knew survive-andadvance was the main goal.”
Albany still had to withstand charges from Hamilton (330-308–638) and Cooper (325-315–640).
“That was my biggest concern,” Thompson said. I knew Cooper was capable of putting up some good rounds and giving us a run. We had to stay at 320 or below to have a shot, because I figured those guys would come out firing.”
The Lions finished with three golfers in the top 20 of the 95-man regional field. Lute Wheeler (75-81–156) tied for 14th. Huffman Heatly (7582–157) and Houston Heatly (82-75–157) tied for 18th.
Wheeler and Huffman Heatly were tied for sixth following the first round. Houston Heatly had Albany’s low round on Tuesday
Luke Marshall (81-82–163) tied for 30th with Ayden Balliew (97-83–180) rounding out the lineup.
All five Albany golfers participated at state last year. Wheeler, Houston Heatly, Marshall and Balliew were also part of the 2022 state team.
“These guys know what it takes to get there and know we’re going to have to step up our game a little bit if we want to get in the medals,” Thompson said. “I think that’s going to play into our favor, having that experience.”
Team totals – 1. Lindsay, 305309–614; 2. Haskell, 312-303–615; 3. Albany, 313-320–633; 4. Hamilton, 330-308–638; 5. Cooper, 325315–640. Individual leaders – 1. Landry Rogers, Lindsay, 64-68–132; 2. Zandar Zafar, Tioga, 65-70–135; 3. Colton Hopkins, Haskell, 72-73–145.
Albany results – T14. Lute Wheeler, 75-81–156; T18. Huffman Heatly, 7582–157; T18. Houston Heatly, 82-75– 157; T30. Luke Marshall, 81-82–163; T51. Ayden Balliew, 97-83–170.
