FARIBAULT &045; There’s always hope for a surprise or two in a Big Nine Conference tournament, but you had to figure it would be rather difficult for the Albert Lea girls’ golf team at Faribault Country Club.

It was.

The Tigers finished about where expected, eighth among 10 teams in Monday’s tournament and ninth overall for the season.

&uot;We played all right,&uot; said first-year head coach Gina Eppen. &uot;All the scores were a little high today.&uot;

The biggest surprise for Eppen was the winner. Austin, undefeated in the regular season, finished nine strokes behind Rochester Century and wound up second overall in the Big Nine.

&uot;I kind of thought Austin would run away with it today,&uot; said Eppen.

Instead Century shot 363 to Austin’s 372. The Tigers had 409 strokes for 18 holes.

Kari Nelson shot a 97 to lead the Tigers. That put her in a tie for 15th individually.

&uot;Kari was a little disappointed, but she played well on a tough course,&uot; said Eppen.

Following for Albert Lea were Hayley Westney, 102; Brie Woitas, 102; Amie Hartman, 108; Jackie Montag, 108; and Shawna Mummert, 119.

The Tigers travel to Rochester Thursday for the first 18 holes of the Section 1AA tournament. The top eight teams and top 12 individuals from nonqualifying teams advance to the final round the following Tuesday at The Summit, a new course near Cannon Falls.