Golfers head to state for first time in 28 years
By Sam Waller
The Albany Lions golf team is heading to state after finishing second in the boys team standings at the Region II-2A tournament.
The regional tournament was played Monday-Tuesday, April 18-19 at Old Brickyard Golf Course in Ferris.
Albany carded a 36-hole team score of 667, finishing 45 shots back of winner Lindsay in the 16-team field. The Lions were four strokes ahead of third-place Hamilton.
“Our top guys didn’t play as well as they wanted, but our 3,4 and 5 guys stepped up and played really well to get us a good team score,” coach Tate Thompson said.
Albany shot rounds of 325 and 342, sitting second after Monday’s round and holding the position through the final round.
Ayden Balliew and Ty Richards both placed in the top 10 to lead the Lions, finishing in a three-way tie for eighth. Balliew shot 77-83–160 with Richards at 78-82–160.
Luke Marshall, who qualified for state in a second spring sport after winning the regional boys singles tennis title last week, shot 82-89–171 to tie for 34th in the field of 93 golfers.
Lute Wheeler finished 42nd at 88-89–177, and Houston Heatly tied for 43rd at 91-88–179.
Thompson said the second-place finish was a bit of a surprise as Hamilton closed with a 334.
“A couple of Hamilton kids were playing really well, and I was afraid they were going to catch us,” he said. “I started focusing on Valley Mills (which began the day in third place), because I knew we had to beat them. We thought for a long time that we’d finished third.”
The Hawley team, which won the District 10-2A title ahead of Albany, finished seventh at 688.
Thompson said Monday’s round put Albany in position to advance.
“We jumped out and shot our best of the year Monday,” he said. “You don’t want to be playing catch-up. We talked to the guys about how the pressure was on the other teams, and we could just play our game.”
The Class 2A state tournament is scheduled May 9-10 at Lions Municipal Golf Course in Austin.
“We’re not sure when we’ll get to play our practice round at state,” Thompson said. “We’ll find a good course where we can challenge the guys a little bit over the next couple of weeks before state.”
Albany last qualified for state as a team in 1994, the last of three consecutive years. In both 1992 and 1993, the Lions lost playoffs after tying for third, then placed sixth in 1994.
Weston Vickers qualified as a medalist in 2018.
Albany won the Class 1A state team title in 1967, and Ross Balliew won the medalist title in 1968.
REGION II-2A TOURNAMENT
5,334 yards, par 71
BOYS
Team totals – 1. Lindsay, 309-317–626; 2. Albany, 325-342–667; 3. Hamilton, 337-334–671; 4. Hico, 337-343–680 5. (tie) Seymour, 340-341–681; Cooper, 349-332–681; 7. Hawley, 358-330–688; 8. Valley Mills, 335-348–683; 9. Olney, 367-357–724; 10. Celeste, 375-360–735; 11. Chico, 371-368–739; 12. Tolar, 382-370–752; 13. Honey Grove, 385-382–767; 14. Alba-Golden, 397-374–771; 15. Linden-Kildare, 415-397–812; 16. Bogata Rivercrest, 433-414–847.
Individual Top 10 – 1. Carson Corbett, Lindsay, 77-72–149; 2. (tie) Landry Rogers, Lindsay, 74-79–153; Trevor Melton, Chico, 76-77–153; 4. Reese Polk, Hico, 72-84–156; 5. Mason Guinn, Hamilton, 80-78–158; 6. (tie) Justin Giessner, Hico, 74-85–159; Lawson Bailey, Hawley, 80-79–159. 8. (tie)William Boles, Valley Mills, 75-85–160; Ayden Balliew, Albany, 77-83–160; Ty Richards, Albany, 78-82-160.
Albany – Ayden Balliew, 77-83–160; Ty Richards, 78-82-160; Luke Marshall, 82-89–171; Lute Wheeler, 88-89–177; Houston Heatly, 91-88–179.
