Golfers gear up for district

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions golf team shot five rounds under 90 Monday, March 6 to finish second in the team standings at the Eula tournament at Baird’s Shady Oaks Golf Course.

Albany’s Myleigh Leveridge played in the girls division Wednesday, March 8. Results will be reported next week.

Albany golfers have next week off for spring break, then return to action Monday, March 20 (boys) and Wednesday, March 22 (girls) at the Trent tournament at Shady Oaks.

The final event before district play will be the Haskell Invitational Monday, March 27 (boys) and Wednesday, March 29 (girls).

District rounds are Monday-Tuesday, April 3-4. The first round will be played at Shady Oaks with the second at Sweetwater Country Club.

Ty Richards shot 81 on Monday at Shady Oaks to finish third in the medal standings.

Albany posted a team score of 337 with Houston Heatly and Luke Marshall both shooting 85, while Ayden Balliew carded an 86. Huffman Heatly rounded out the lineup with an 88, while Koy Cauble shot 105 playing as a medalist.

“That’s the first time I’ve ever had to throw out anything in the 80s, and that’s a good feeling to have,” coach Tate Thompson said. “And honestly, nobody but Ty played outstanding. I know we can get some guys in the 70s.”

Thompson said the Lions’ short game was a highlight of the day.

“We putted really well, but we didn’t hit that many greens,” he said.

The Lions also have yet to have Lute Wheeler, who played in the No. 1 spot in the lineup last year. The junior missed the tournament because of an injury sustained in Albany’s area playoff basketball game.

“I think the competition to make the team is making everybody play at their best,” Thompson said.