Albert Lea’s Pulley is 11th on Day 1

COON RAPIDS —Albert Lea senior Megan Pulley set herself up to challenge for a state championship.

Pulley finished Day 1 of the girls’ Class AAA state golf tournament at Bunker Hills Golf Course in Coon Rapids Tuesday in a six-way tie for 11th-place in the 88-player field.

On the front nine, Pulley shot a 37, and on the back nine she shot a 42 for a total of 79 strokes.

Finishing in the top tier made Pulley’s confidence skyrocket, Albert Lea head coach Shawn Riebe said.

“She’s playing great and swinging with tons of confidence,” he said. “That’s exactly what we need.”

Pulley is eight strokes behind the Day 1 first-place finishers. Alex Schmid of Shakopee and Sarah Burnham of Wayzata each shot 35 on the front nine and 36 on the back nine to share the Class AAA lead with 71 strokes.

Pulley will have a chance to move up in the standings today during the second 18 holes.