The Albert Lea boys are starting to play their best golf of the season. Thursday, the Tigers dominated a Big Nine Conference triangular at Green Lea shooting 310.

The score was the best Albert Lea has fired in two years and easily beat Winona which shot 321 and Mankato East&8217;s 327.

The top eight players in Albert Lea&8217;s lineup all broke 40 on the front nine.

&8220;That is unbelievable,&8221; Tiger head coach Riley Worth said. &8220;We will continue to improve, but we may never do that again. That is all six varsity players and the top two JV.&8221;

Tyler Brackey and Sam Matheson led the way with matching rounds of 76 while Cody Anderson, Mike Falk and Grant Stadheim all shot 79. Drew Klick round out the varsity with an 80.

Sheldon Haebtke of Winona, the defending Big Nine champion, was the medalist shooting a four-under par 68.

&8220;This time of the year you find out who your players are going to be in the season-ending tournaments,&8221; Worth said. &8220;We still have a week to go, but they all played very well.&8221;

Albert Lea is back in action Saturday at the Eagan Invitational.

Tigers second in triangular

WINONA &8212; The Albert Lea girls&8217; golf team battled hot conditions and a tough golf course at the Winona Country Club Thursday.

The Tigers finished second in a Big Nine Conference triangular with a 417. Mankato East won with a 398 while Winona shot 437.

The Tigers were led by Kelli Hanson&8217;s 98 and Abby Leach added a 106. Mariah Howe shot a 107 and Ali Demmer completed the top four with a 108. Taylor Nelson shot 110 and Heather Greibrok had a 119.

&8220;It was good to get a round in at the same course where conference will be,&8221; Tiger head coach Shawn Riebe said. &8220;Hopefully we can learn from this and do better next time.&8221;

The Tigers are at the Owatonna Invite Saturday.

NRHEG girls second

WASECA &8212; The New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva girls&8217; golf team lost to Waseca Thursday 203-227.

The Panthers played without No. 1 golfer Mariah Tappe, but Katie Walstrom led them with a 54. Shelby Whitcomb added a 56, Paige Sorenson had a 58, Hannah Demmer shot 59, Brittni Wangsness carded a 62 and Jessica Shultz finished with a 65.

Waseca&8217;s Kim Kritzer and Erica Dennis were medalists with rounds of 48.

USC falls to Fairmont

FAIRMONT &8212; The United South Central golf teams both suffered losses to Fairmont, Thursday.

The girls lost by a single stroke, 214-215, while the boys were downed 159-169.

The girls were led by Jessica Stensrud and Kirsten Amberg who both shot 51. Erin Hotzler added a 56 and Steph Heman had a 57.

Fairmont&8217;s Brittany Ostlie was the medalist with a 50.

The Rebel boys were paced by Jarod Ludemann&8217;s 38 and Alex Pederson&8217;s 40. Jeff Hassing shot a 44 and Sam Gackstetter had a 47.

Fairmont&8217;s Myles Pfingstein was the medalist with a 35.

USC is at Blue Earth Area today.