Titans win conference crown

Choctaw’s Albee takes second at Titan Invitational

By Jeff Harrison
Midwest City Beacon 

Carl Albert’s boys golf team was right at home Thursday.

The Titans had their best showing of the season as they placed third overall at the Titan Invitational at John Conrad Regional Golf Course. The team also won the Suburban Conference Tournament, which ran simultaneously with the event.

“That was our best score of the year and it was three shots better than last week,” said Carl Albert coach John Herbert. “If we can keep that trend we’ll be in good shape. Three players in the 70s is pretty good.”

OKC Storm shot a 307 to win the tournament. Bishop McGuinness was runner-up with 314 followed by Carl Albert (314) and Choctaw (322). The Titans also claimed the conference title on the same day. Piedmont was runner-up with 325.

Herbert said he knew the field would be a challenge.

“OKC Storm is always good, and I don’t shy away from inviting them because it’s good to have that competitive atmosphere,” he said. “Bishop McGuinness is a team that we’ll battle on the west side of the state. And for us to stay four strokes behind them this week and beat them by three last week is a good sign.”

Choctaw’s Preston Albee was second individually with a one-over-par 73. After opening the day with a double bogey, Albee shot four birdies and an eagle on the par 4 No. 11 hole.

Carson Lee of McGuinness won the tournament with an even 72.

Carl Albert had three players shoot in the 70s. Keegan Westlake, Cole Wipfli and Zack Pennington each carded a 78. Westlake and Pennington each had one birdie on the day. Wipfli was one under through the first nine holes including back-to-back birdies on four and five. He got off to a rocky start on the back nine before evening out for a 78.

Logan Lantz finished with an 84 and Caden Nossaman shot 86.

Albee led the way for the Yellowjackets followed by four players in the 80s. Aaron Cook was second on the team with a round of 80 including a birdie on par 5 No. 16. JonJon Martens was next with 83 followed by Wyatt Curry (85) and Turner Becktold (87).

It was the first high school tournament at the Midwest City course since it was revamped last year.

“The course conditions were great, and everyone was really complimentary of the course,” Herbert said. “The greens are challenging and it’s just a good fun course. Stephen Riley, the course superintendent, and Larry Denney, director of golf, help us so much.”

Carl Albert competed in the 5A State Preview on Tuesday at The Territory in Duncan. They will play in the 36-hole Husky Preview Thursday at Lincoln Park – West.