The Tri-State Invitational at the Les Bolstad University of Minnesota Golf Course attracts top-end competition annually and this season the Albert Lea boys’ golf team was among the 24 teams invited to play in the event.

“This is a really amazing tournament and we’re honored to be a part of it,” said Tigers head coach Riley Worth.

It’s a tournament Worth has wanted to be a part of since he began coaching the team and Albert Lea is right in the mix of some of the top teams in the state.

The tournament boasts all eight teams that qualified for the state tournament last season is arguably one of the toughest tournaments in the state.

The Tigers, the only Big Nine team invited to the tournament, tied for 19th after a first-day total of 324. Their scored tied them with Hastings and puts them within reach of their goal of placing in the top 16, which would earn a return trip for next season.

“We showed for part of our rounds that we’re capable of playing with that tier,” Worth said. “We just didn’t do it for an entire nine.”

Sam Matheson led Albert Lea with a 78 on the day. Matheson finished seven over par and tied for 45th overall. Matheson birdied two holes on the front side and finished two over par. He struggled on the back nine and opened with consecutive bogies, but went on to par five consecutive holes and finished with a 41.

Casey Marka had a solid start to the day and was even par after the first eight holes, but a double bogey put him two over par on the front. The back nine wasn’t as good for Mark as he had four bogies, a double, and a triple to finish with an 82.

Tyler Brackey shot 80 for the first round and improved on the back nine after shooting a 42 on the front. He birdied 10, but bogeyed 15, 16, 17 to finish with a 38.

Grant Stadheim finished with an 84 and played a grinding round. After a front-nine 44, he shot a steady four over par 40 on the backside.

Cody Anderson shot 43, 42 to finish with an 85 to round out the scoring for Albert Lea.

“We gotta leapfrog at least four or five teams,” Worth said, in order to place in the top 16. “We want to get in with an impressive round. We’d like to sneak up on some people.”

Live scoring for the tournament is available on www.golfstat.com. Updates will be made after the sixth and 12th hole Saturday.

The Tigers begin play at 8:45 a.m. Saturday and their last tee time is at 9:12 a.m.