The weather finally cooperated for the Austin High boys' golf team, but the Packers could not take full advantage in finishing last out of eight at the New Prague Invitational Friday at the New Prague Golf Club.

Austin senior Adam Plotts shot a 6-over par round of 78 as the only Packer golfer to score under 83. The entire Faribault scoring foursome shot 79 or better to take the team title with an aggregate score of 300. Austin was 30 strokes off the pace with a 330.

"It was definitely a day for golf, the best day we have had weather-wise," said AHS coach Corey Haugen. "Unfortunately we were unable to bring in the lower scores we were expecting.

"The guys were hitting the ball well today, we just couldn't score."

Faribault did, ousting defending tournament champion Albert Lea by 11 strokes as the closest competition. Austin was only three shots out of a three-way tie for eighth. The Packers finished second behind Albert Lea at the same event a year ago.

"We were again challenged by the greens," Haugen said. "We definitely need to keep working on getting up-and-down. Just hitting the ball long isn't going to win golf meets."

Austin will have the chance to fine-tune its game at home when the Packers host Mankato West and Winona Monday for a Big Nine Conference double-dual starting at 2:30 p.m. at the Austin Country Club.

Call Ross Thede at 434-2234 or e-mail him at :mailto:sports@austindailyherald.com.

Results:

Team standings -- 1. Faribault: 71-75-75-79--300, 2. Albert Lea: 75-77-79-80--311, 3. Bloomington Jefferson: 74-79-80-82--315, 4. Redwood Valley: 73-78-83-83--317, 5. Waconia: 79-79-80-82--320, 6. New Prague: 78-80-84-85--327, 6. Orono: 77-79-82-89--327, 8. Austin: 78-83-84-85--330

Austin (330) -- Adam Plotts 78, Matt Ball 84, Jon Bain 86, Mike Osboe 85, Troy Hoefflin 83, Ben Meyer 87.