Golfers to play at regional meet

The Albany Lions golf team takes its shot at a return to the Class 2A statetournamentMonday-Tuesday,April 15-16 at the Region II-2A tournament at Old Brickyard Golf Course in Ferris.

The top three teams and top three individuals at regional advance to state, which will be Monday-Tuesday, April 29-30 at Lions Municipal Golf Course in Austin.

Albany qualified for regional by finishing second in the District 10-2A tournament. In 2022, the Lions managed to advance to state after finishing second in district.

“The last couple of years, we’ve been able to improve our scores from district to regional, which is obviously what you want,” coach Tate Thompson said. “I’ve been getting scores from other districts, and we’re going to have to put up some good scores to advance.”

The district lineup of Lute Wheeler, Luke Marshall, Houston Heatly, Ayden Balliew, and Huffman Heatly will remain intact. Ty Richards will serve as alternate. All six have played in the state tournament.

Albany will play a practice round Sunday afternoon before competition starts Monday morning.

“Our kids have played the course enough to know it,” Thompson said. “It’s still nice to see the condition of the greens, and figure out what to hit on a couple of holes depending on the wind. That’s something that the practice round helps with.”

Thompson entered the team in tournaments at Lipan’s Sugar Tree and Glen Rose’s Squaw Valley to prepare for the postseason. Now it’s time for that experience to pay off.

“My main goal with those courses was having these kids make decisions on their own about things like course management,” he said. “I can’t always be aroundwiththem.Iwanted them to decide how to place theballwheretheyneedit.”

At district, Albany had two teams, finishing second and fourth, as well as two playing as medalists.