The first day of the Class 3A boys’ state golf tournament was a battle for Albert Lea senior Mike Falk, who is making his first trip to the state tournament.

Falk shot 82, carding a 42 on the front and a 40 on the back at the par-72 Bunker Hills Golf Course in Coon Rapids. His round put him in an eight-way tie for 53rd overall at the tournament. The first-round leader is Eastview’s Joe Petrulo, who shot a 1-under 71.

“It was kind of a battle today,” Falk said. “I couldn’t get real comfortable over anything.”

The course was dry and the greens firm, which made things difficult around the green, Falk said.

The fast greens produced big bounces on shots which led to long putts. Falk had 41 putts, which included putts from the fringe, in his first round.

He recorded four three-putts and a four-putt, but he did hit 13 greens in regulation.

“It could have been a lot higher, but it could have been lower,” Falk said. “I kind of have mixed feelings about the round.”

Falk’s lag putting could have been sharper, but head coach Riley Worth was pleased with the round overall.

“We’re pretty pleased with his performance especailly because I think he can really improve on that,” Worth said. “If he makes some putts he could have a nice score (tomorrow).”

Nerves played a factor on the first hole for Falk as he adjusted to playing with a gallery. He hit a fairway bunker and made double bogey. He finished the side 6-over.

Falk started to settle in on the back nine, following a double bogey and a bogey on the first two holes, and played seven of the holes at 1-over.

“I definitely am going to take away that I can play that course,” he said. “Tomorrow I hope to be a little more relaxed which I think I will be. I just hope to get off to a little better start and settle in sooner than I did today.”

Falk tees off at 7:48 a.m. Wednesday for the second round of the tournament.