Falk on track for individual state berth

The Albert Lea Tigers boys’ golf team its second-highest score of the season Thursday in the Section 1AA Tournament at Bellwood Oaks Golf Club in Hastings.

The Tigers shot 347 to finish 11th of 12 teams and failed to advance to Monday’s final round.

“It was not the result we were hoping for,” Tigers coach Riley Worth said. “It can drive a coach to madness wondering what happened to all that progress I’ve seen throughout the year. Maybe it was the pressure of sections — who knows.”

The Tigers finished three strokes ahead of last-place Northfield. Lakeville North led the tournament after the first round.

The lone bright spot for the Tigers was the play of junior Brady Falk. Falk shot a six-over par 79 and advanced to the final round.

Worth said historically, the state tournament cut has been around 154 or 155 for two days. That means Falk likely needs to shoot a final-round score around 76 to earn a state tournament berth.

“He hit the ball so well today,” Worth said. “He didn’t make many putts, but admittedly, he didn’t miss any he was expected to make, either.”

Worth said Falk made a putt under pressure on Hole 17 to save bogey, and had a great punch shot on his final home to help save par and break 80.

“Which is all that much tougher since it’s a par 73,” Worth said.

Lucas Peterson (89), Nate Stadheim (89) and Adam Syverson (90) rounded off the Tigers’ scorecard. Nick Dulas (95) and Brent Nafzger (98) were non-scorers for the Tigers.

Team leaderboard

1. Lakeville North 307

2. Lakeville South 321

3. Owatonna 322

4. Winona 323

5. Rochester Century 324

6. Rochester Mayo 330

7. Rochester John Marshall 335

8. Farmington 337

9. Austin 344

10. Faribault 344

11. Albert Lea 347

12. Northfield 350