ROCHESTER &045; The winds were up and so were the scores.

For the first time this year, the Albert Lea High School boys’ golf team went down in a Big Nine meet.

The Tigers had trouble in the wind Monday, according to coach Doug Christopherson, and finished second in a conference triangular at Rochester’s Northern Hills Golf Club.

Faribault won with 323 strokes for 18 holes. The Tigers had 328, Rochester John Marshall 331.

&uot;The wind conditions were unbelievable,&uot; said Christopherson. &uot;As a result, the scores were up. We did narrow the gap with Faribault from 11 strokes last Friday to five today. Next time we’ll beat them.&uot;

Mike Fiedler, the defending Big Nine champ who led the Falcons to victory in Friday’s New Prague Invitational, was the medalist with a 74.

The next best round was a 78 by Albert Lea freshman Jon Breuer.

&uot;That was an outstanding round, especially in the wind,&uot; said Christopherson.

Adam Boelter and Ryan Thompson shot 83, Josh Jones 84 to round out the Tigers’ scoring. Missing the cut were Dan Breuer at 89 and Adam Elseth with a 91.

The Tigers ran their Big Nine record to 3-1.

The Albert Lea junior varsity improved to 4-0, winning with 331 strokes to 357 for John Marshall and 363 for Faribault. Scoring for the JV: Ross Stadheim 79, Ben Jones 81, Matt Bennett 84, Josh Tubbs 87.

The Tigers finally get to compete on their home course Thursday when they face Austin in a 2:30 nonconference meet at Green Lea.