Gracious hosts

Published 1:05 pm Saturday, April 30, 2011

Albert Lea golfer Megan Pulley watches her tee shot Friday on Hole 5 at Wedgewood Cove Golf Club in Albert Lea. Pulley parred the hole and shot a 95 for Albert Lea, who overcame a blustery day to beat Rochester John Marshall and Winona. -- Andrew Dyrdal

Straight-line winds and chilly temperatures made Friday’s girls’ golf triangular at Wedgewood Cove Golf Club in Albert Lea a less-than-ideal home opener for the Albert Lea Tigers.

Megan Pulley and Morgan Field led the Tigers out of the mess and to close wins over Winona and Rochester John Marshall.

“We had a nasty day for golf,” Tigers coach Shawn Riebe said. “Wedgewood becomes a difficult

Albert Lea’s Megan Pulley lines up a putt Friday on Hole 7 at Wedgewood Cove Golf Club in Albert Lea. Albert Lea beat Winona by three strokes to take first place. -- Andrew Dyrdal

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course when the wind blows and it showed today.”

The Tigers shot 398, edging Winona (401) by three strokes and John Marshall (414) by 16.

The Tigers and Winhakws were tied with three of four scores counted until Paige Brick finished with a 102 and lifted the Tigers to a three-stroke victory.

Riebe said after beating Winona and John Marshall easily last week, the team was confident they would win on their home course. Still, they needed every stroke.

“Megan Pulley, who has been our No. 1 golfer this season, struggled a little today with her ball striking and putting,” Riebe said. “She is usually the one we count on to put us out front by 10 to 15 strokes. But she just struggled to keep the big numbers away.”

Pulley finished third overall with a 95 and Field finished fourth with a 96.

“She is on track now this year and I really look for her to keep shooting lower scores,” Riebe said, of Field. “She has really anchored the No. 2 spot well.”

Albert Lea individual scores

1. Megan Pulley 95

2. Morgan Field 96

3. Pagie Brick 102

4. Mady Dahl 105

5. Chelsea Battley 105

6. Makenna Friehl 111