3 Straight Years
Lack of experience will not be a factor for the Albany Lions golf team at the Class 2A state tournament.
The Lions will make their third consecutive state appearance when they tee it up Monday-Tuesday, April 29-30 at Lions Municipal Golf Course in Austin.Albany finished fifth at state in 2022 and third in 2023.
“It’s kind of the same thing we had in football this year – we’ve been there and done that,” Coach Tate Thompson said. “The things that overwhelm kids who’ve never been there before are not going to affect our kids. It’s just another time going, business as usual for them.”
Four team members – seniors Lute Wheeler, Houston Heatly, and Luke Marshall and sophomore Huffman Heatly – have played in state football finals as the Lions claimed back-to-back state titles.
“It would be good to win golf and football the same year,” Wheeler said. “We’ve been there a lot, so we know all the holes. We’ve been fifth and third. The next odd number is one.”
Houston Heatly said having competed on such big stages makes it easier to handle the pressure.
“I think we’re all comfortable with the state golf course,” he said. “We’re going to have to go out there and come together as a team.”
They, along with senior Ayden Balliew, all played in last year’s state golf tournament. The four seniors have two state trips on their resumes. “It makes me feel pretty comfortable that we have been there two times already,” Balliew said. “We’ve just got to go out there and do our job.”
Huffman Heatly said the situation allows the Lions to just go play golf.
“We have a lot of experience,” he said. “We’ve been there a couple of times, so we’re pretty comfortable with the course. We know where to go and where to play the ball.”
Thompson said claiming a team trophy last year has Albany hungry for more.
“I think getting third last year and seeing the championship was within reach,they saw it’doable,” he said. “I think that motivates them a little more. Last year,the approach was to get a medal.Thisyear,it’s to go winit. Thementality’s there,and the experienceis certainly going to be good for us.”
The Lions qualified by finishing third at the Region II-2A tournament behind two-time defending champion Lind say and District 10-2A rival Haskell.
“Another thing that helps us is our region is by far the toughest region,” Thompson said. “All of the top three from our region would have won any other region. We’re the top three in the state based on regional scores.”
