Lions place third at home golf invitational
By Sam Waller
The Albany Lions boys golf teams had a strong showing on their home course last week with the first team finishing third at the Lion Invitational at Albany Golf Course.
Albany golfers spent this week at the Eula tournament, played at Shady Oaks Golf Course. Myleigh Leveridge played in the girls division Monday, March 3 with the boys playing Wednesday, March 6. Results will be reported next week.
On Wednesday, Feb. 26, Albany’s first team shot 335 to finish eight strokes back of winner Stamford and six behind runnerup Hawley. Albany’s second team, which had just four players, placed eighth at 426.
The first team had all four scoring players break 90 and finish among the top 20 individuals in the field of 45.
“It was a good first tournament,” Lions coach Tate Thompson said. “A couple of guys who shot pretty well had some blow-up holes, so it’s just about them figuring out they can’t have those three- and four-putts late in a round when they get tired. It’ll give them a double- or triple-bogey that’ll affect their score.”
Connor Smith led the first team with a 79, tying for third place individually, while Clay Chapman tied for fifth with an 80. Ty Richards shot 87 to tie for 13th and Huffman Heatly tied for 16th at 89. Aiden Vickers rounded out the lineup with a round of 104, placing 31st.
The second team was led by Jacob Knight with an 87, tying Richards, while Hollis Yeates shot 96 to tie for 24th. Landon Balliew tied for 29th with a 101 and Dylan Paxton shot 142 for 44th.
“It never fails that a guy who doesn’t qualify for the first team ends up playing really well,” Thompson said of Knight’s round. “I don’t know if it’s the relief of pressure or what, but that’s part of it. We’ve just got to put the guys who qualify with the best scores on the first team and hope they can perform like they did in qualifying.”
Albany was the only school with two teams in the event, which included squads from Lingleville, Eula, Anson and Cisco as well as medalists from Abilene Christian, Hamlin and Merkel.
Team members Casey Estridge, Shooter Shoaf, and Braeten Street did not play in the local tourney. Thompson said having enough for two full teams plus two medalists give Albany more options with team lineups.
“It puts pressure on the guys to qualify and play good,” he said. “They’re going to face that kind of pressure in district, regional and, hopefully, state. They’re competing for spots, and they need to have that pressure on them, because if they get too relaxed, they won’t be able to perform when they face those tough situations.”
The Eula tournament gives Albany a look at the same course it will play for the district tournament, scheduled for Monday, March 31 and Tuesday, April 1. The boys team will also play the course Wednesday, March 19 in the Jim Ned tournament.
“Shady Oaks is where we’ll play district, so it’ll be a good test,” Thompson said. “Last year’s bunch played Shady Oaks a million times, but these younger guys haven’t. It’s important that we get these tournaments there early in the season.”
Lions Invitational
at Albany Golf Club
Team totals — 1. Stamford, 327; 2. Hawley, 329; 3. Albany 1, 335; 4. Lingleville, 357; 5. Eula, 380; 6. Anson, 388; 7. Cisco, 422; 8. Albany 2, 426.
Albany 1 — Connor Smith, 79; Clay Chapman, 80; Ty Richards, 87; Huffman Heatly, 89; Aiden Vickers, 104.
Albany 2 — Jacob Knight, 87; Hollis Yeates, 96; Landon Balliew, 101; Dylan Paxton; 142.
