ROCHESTER – It was a struggle for the Albert Lea High School boys’ golf team.

Tuesday, April 16, 2002

ROCHESTER – It was a struggle for the Albert Lea High School boys’ golf team.

But it was a win.

The Tigers battled the elements and an always-tough Rochester Mayo team Monday and won their season opener by a single stroke at Rochester’s Eastwood Golf Course. Albert Lea had 330 for 18 holes, Mayo 331.

While the weather conditions were rough – extremely windy and an estimated 94 degrees in downtown Rochester – Tigers coach Doug Christopherson felt his squad could have played better.

&uot;I’m happy with the victory but very disappointed in the way we played,&uot; said Christopherson. &uot;I don’t think we handled the weather conditions very well. We’re a veteran squad and we should be shooting better scores.

&uot;But we survived. That’s the bottom line.&uot;

Josh Jones paced the Tigers with an 80. Adam Elseth shot 82, Ryan Thompson 83, Dan Breuer 85, Adam Boelter 85, Josh Tubbs 89.

The junior varsity won 345-388. Scoring for the tigers: Matt Tubbs 84, Ross Stadheim 84, Beau Larson 86, Ben Jones 91, Cory Ellertson 91.

The Tigers compete Thursday in the varsity-only Northfield Invitational. Starting time is 2 p.m.