The Albert Lea boys’ golf team tied its best score of the season Monday against Rochester Mayo at Green Lea Golf Course.

“There were so many positive things today,” said Albert Lea coach Riley Worth. “The minimal wind aided people, but you’re still asked to make contact and hit the golf ball and make the putts.”

The Tigers completed the 18-hole course in 308 strokes, which matched their total at Chaska on May 12 and beat their score from Day 1 of the Albert Lea High School Invitational on Friday by one stroke. Rochester Mayo finished 26 strokes behind.

Par for the course is 72, and Lucas Peterson led Albert Lea and took medalist honors by finishing one over par. He improved his score by three strokes since Friday’s tournament.

“What’s kind of scary is that Lucas shot a 73 and didn’t putt well,” Worth said. “He’s hitting the ball and managing the game extremely well — not a lot of wayward shots from him.”

Peterson said he found his groove at the first two tee boxes of the back nine.

“I had a mediocre drive on (hole) nine, but then had good drives on 10 and 11,” he said. “That got me pumped up.”

Brent Nafzger, who was in the same group as Peterson, shot a 75 to take runner-up medalist honors. He shaved four strokes off his total from Friday. Par for the front nine is 35, and Worth said Nafzger was one under par up to that point.

“That was impressive,” Worth said. “I don’t see that very often. It was his best round of the year.”

Nafzger finished the front nine with that negative score despite hitting the ball into the trees on hole No. 7. He wound up on the fairway for the hole going the opposite direction but managed to get back on course by chipping his way onto the green to make birdie on the next shot.

“He’s deadly from recovery areas,” Worth said. “We’re really not all that shocked. He’s been All-Conference twice and honorable mention once. He just had all cylinders clicking.”

Brady Loch took Albert Lea’s third-place spot by shooting the same score he did on Friday.

“Brady had some early struggles but managed to hold everything together, keep himself in the moment and turn it into a 79,” Worth said. “I’m really proud of him for that.”

Adam Syverson filled the Tigers’ final scoring spot with an 81. It was three strokes behind Friday’s total, but he’s experimenting with a new technique on the green.

“He switched to cross-handed putting with his left hand low,” Worth said. “I can really see the difference. He’s going to be a force.”

Ryan Peterson shot an 82 and Jack Pulley had an 89. It was Peterson’s second varsity meet, Worth said.

Dalton Flatness led Albert Lea’s junior varsity team to a 353-358 win by completing the course in 87 strokes.

Next, the Tigers will play at 9 a.m. Friday at the Big Nine Conference Meet at Mankato Country Club.

Statistics are in the Scoreboard: May 19 post.