It was slow going for Albert Lea’s Kelli Hanson on the front nine in the first round of the Class AAA girls state championship, but then again it was slow for everyone.

With dozens of people walking the course to watch the pace of play slowed to a crawl on the front nine Tuesday at the Bunker Hills Golf Course in Coon Rapids throwing off the rhythm of many golfers making their first state tournament appearance.

Hanson was among those first-timers affected as the front nine played at a 3 hour 15 minute clip.

Hanson shot 50 on the front side and finished the round with a 90 placing her eight way tie for 48th place. New Prague’s Steffi Niesen shot a two-under par 71 and leads the tournament by four strokes.

“It started off really bad,” Hanson said. “The second nine I did really well and I only had three bogeys and the rest were par.”

Hanson shot 40 on the back nine, matching her round during the practice round Monday.

“I think the problem was she was nervous,” Tigers head coach Shawn Riebe said. “Big show, crowd of people, new course, all those issues probably affected her a little bit. Great recovery to come back with a 40.”

Many scores ballooned during the first nine holes as the girls tried to adjust to the hoopla surrounding the state tournament and Hanson adjusted on the back nine.

“Coming off the first nine I just wanted to start new,” Hanson said. “My chipping was more consistent.”

That short game plays an important role in Hanson’s game and it took her awhile to get it going.

“She really lives and dies by the short game,” Riebe said. “Chipping and putting are her bread and butter and it wasn’t working.”

As she began the second nine Hanson calmed down and started to hit better shots and gained confidence along the way to have something to build on for today’s round.

Although Tuesday didn’t go as well as she would have liked it to have gone, she was able to reflect in the fact that she made it to state, a goal she has had since seventh-grade.

“It’s just cool being here even if I don’t score well,” Hanson said. “The goal is always to get here and I got here so whatever happens from here is OK with me.”