The Albert Lea boys’ golf team earned fifth place out of 12 teams at the Section 1AAA tournament Monday at Bellwood Oaks Golf Course.

Lucas Peterson led the Tigers with a score of 156 over the two-day event. On Thursday, Peterson shot a 73. Monday, he shot an 83 and missed qualifying for the state tournament by one place and two strokes.

“Lucas has come so far in a year that it’s hard to quantify,” Albert Lea assistant coach Riley Worth said. “He’s gone from a good player to one of the Big Nine Conference’s best. If he continues to improve at the rate he has, he’s going to impress a lot of people.”

Captain Nate Stadheim, Albert Lea’s lone departing senior, shot a 174.

“He’s been a great player for us for a long time on the varsity since eighth grade,” Worth said. “He’s an awesome kid and a good teammate.”

Sam Chalmers and Alex Syverson earned Albert Lea’s third and fifth top scores.

“They’re two really hard workers and they set a good example for the other younger kids,” Worth said.

Brent Nafzger led the Tigers on Day 2 of the tournament with a 77, and Adam Syverson shot a 91. Both golfers are junior third-year starters.

Lakeville North won the section, and Rochester Century came in second.

Albert Lea was the smallest school in Class AAA this season, However, Worth said that it hasn’t hampered the team and its tradition of success.