Albany golfers continue legacy
By Sam Waller
When the 2022 Albany Lions golf team tees it up at the state tournament next week, it will be continuing a legacy that dates back more than 60 years.
From 1959 through 1969, the Lions qualified for state 10 times in 11 years. The Lions won the team title in 1967, and Ross Balliew won the medalist title in 1968.
Albany went to state three consecutive years from 1992-94, twice losing playoffs after tying for third.
This year’s team carries links to that past in Ayden Balliew, grandson of Ross, and Houston Heatly, whose father, John Tom, played on the state teams of the ’90s.
“Having that connection is big because these guys don’t know what to expect,” coach Tate Thompson said. “I’ve coached at state a few times, and they’ve got relatives that have played there. Maybe we can help them out a little bit.”
Thompson said the atmosphere at state is different from most high school tournaments.
“Even that first tee shot when they announce your name, and everybody’s there watching and clapping, that in itself can be overwhelming,” he said. “The kids are excited, and I’m excited.”
Heatly said the legacy can be beneficial to this year’s players.
“It gives us something to look forward to,” he said. “Knowing that dads or grandparents have been there is kind of neat.”
For Balliew, whose father Sam played for Albany in the late 1990s, there are two generations of experience to draw from.
“It makes me feel good that I have had people in my family compete for Albany,” he said. “Now I get to be a part of that.”
Albany qualified for state by finishing second in the Region II-2A tournament last month at Ferris. In addition to Balliew and Heatly, team members are Lute Wheeler, Luke Marshall, and Ty Richards. Richards and Balliew tied for eighth individually at regional.
The Class 2A state tournament will be played Monday-Tuesday, May 9-10, at Lions Municipal Golf Course in Austin.
“It will definitely require course management,” Thompson said. “A lot of tee shots will have to be laid up. We’re going to have to spend the practice round talking about strategy, what to hit off the box in order to get a good second shot.”
Albany will play a practice round Sunday afternoon.
Thompson said the course’s Bermuda greens offer another challenge.
“They’re pretty tricky when it comes to the grain,” he said. “Sometimes, it might look like a putt is going to break a certain way, then it might break uphill because of the way the grains are running. It’s going to be real important to learn how to score on those greens.”
