Golfers play in scramble

Albany’s Ty Richards playedonthewinningteam Monday, Feb. 26 at the Hawley golf tournament as theLionsmadetheirsecond outing in less than a week.

On Monday, March 4, Albany’sMyleighLeveridge will play in the Eula tournament at Shady Oaks Golf Course. On Tuesday, March 5, the boys team will compete in the Millsap tournament, which will be played at Sugar Tree Golf Club in Lipan.

The Hawley event employed a scramble format withteamsmadeupofplayers from different schools. In addition to host Hawley, other schools taking part were Stamford, Anson, Merkel, and Roscoe.

“It was good way for the experienced golfers to help theinexperiencedones,”Albany coach Tate Thompson said. “It was more to learn rules and etiquette. It was fun,butitwascompetitive.”

Albany opened its season Wednesday, Feb. 21 by finishing second in the Abilene High JV tournament at Shady Oaks. Without Lute Wheeler and Luke Marshall,whowerebothoccupied with the basketball playoffs, the Lions shot a team score of 334 to finish behind Abilene High.

Huffman Heatly and Richards both shot 82 to lead the Lions. Ayden Balliew shot 84 with Houston Heatlyshooting86.Landon Balliew shot 100 to round out the lineup.

“That got us in the groove of playing a tournament and walking 18 holes,” Thompson said. “That may not seem like a big deal, but these guys have to maintain their strength and not get worn down from walking.”

Wheeler and Marshall, who have been part of Albany’s lineup at the state tournament the last two years, competed at Hawley.

Albany’s schedule will includeaGlenRosetournament March 19 at Squaw ValleyGolfCourse.Thompson said his goal is to better prepare the Lions for another runatstatebyplaying courses such as Sugar Tree and Squaw Valley.

“I want the guys to play with other good golfers and play some challenging courses,” he said. “Sugar Tree has Bermuda greens, which is what we would see at state.”