Albert Lea girls’ golf coach Shawn Riebe was soaking wet after the Big Nine Conference tournament and he couldn’t have been happier.

The Tigers accomplished the goal they had set out after since the beginning of the season and claimed the Big Nine title for the first time since 1995 and as part of the celebration Riebe jumped into the pond at the Austin Country Club.

Albert Lea shot 372 and held off Mankato West for the second time in four days, this time by one stroke, to claim the conference crown. The Tigers met the Scarlets Friday in Owatonna and won by three strokes over the West to complete an undefeated conference season. Had the Scarlets beaten Albert Lea Monday the two teams would have shared the title.

Faribault won the tournament, but the conference title is based on the regular season record and the tournament results. The Falcons had two losses on the season while the Tigers were handed their first by Faribault, which shot 368.

“At the beginning of the season we knew we had the potential to do this,” Riebe said. “A lot of the girls stepped up to the plate.”

Albert Lea was determined to win the conference title and win it outright.

“We didn’t want a co-anybody,” Riebe said. “We wanted that title to ourselves.”

Senior Kelli Hanson led Albert Lea with an 87, shooting 43 on the front and 44 on the back. Hanson was followed by a trio of 95s, including senior Heather Greibrok who started the round with a front side 53, but rallied on the back to shoot 42.

Junior Taylor Nelson shot a steady 48-47 for her 95 and eighth-grader Megan Pulley added a 95. Senior Erin Brick shot 110 and freshman Morgan Field shot 103.

Just like Friday the team underwent a roller coaster ride of emotions waiting for the results to come in. Riebe expected the tournament to be close, but when the Scarlets No. 6 golfer turned in a career-low 98 the tournament looked to be a very close finish.

“We came in with a lot of confidence and didn’t throw anything away,” Riebe said.

The windy conditions made play difficult but Riebe conveyed to his team that their response to dealing with the conditions would be a determining factor.

“I said, ‘People are going to get in trouble. How you deal with that trouble is going to determine whether we win or not,’” he said.

Kelli Hanson and Megan Pulley were named all-conference following the tournament while Heather Greibrok and Taylor Nelson earned all-conference honorable mention.

The section tournament begins Thursday for Albert Lea in Cannon Falls at the Cannon Falls Golf Course.