MANKATO &045; After losing a meet that looked like a win, the Albert Lea High School boys’ golf team got its biggest victory of the season.

The Tigers, who lost a rain-shortened meet with Rochester Century that they believed was a win last week, defeated the state’s No. 1 rated team in a Big Nine triangular at Mankato Country Club Tuesday. Albert Lea totaled 319 strokes for 18 holes. Top-ranked Owatonna had 321, and Mankato West had 333.

It left the Tigers and Owatonna tied for the Big Nine lead with 8-1 records, giving them eight points to start Monday’s conference tournament. Teams also get one point for every squad they defeat in the tourney, and the team with the most points is the Big Nine champion.

&uot;I think we’re going to be a major contender and a force to reckon with,&uot; said the Tigers’ Ross Stadheim, who was the medalist Tuesday with a 74.

Following for the Tigers were Adam Elseth, 78; Dan Breuer, 83; Josh Jones, 84; Ben Jones, 86; and Jon Breuer, 86.

The junior varsity finished 9-0 with a tiebreaker victory over Owatonna. The Tigers’ scores: Beau Larson, 83; Matt Bennett, 87; Alex Lair, 88; and Corey Ellertson, 88.

The Tigers and Owatonna have a two-point lead over Century and Faribault entering the conference tournament, set to tee off at 10 a.m. Monday at Rochester’s Eastwood Golf Course.

&uot;It will be interesting Monday, that’s for sure,&uot; said ALHS coach Matt Addington.