HAYFIELD — It was a long time coming and Lyle/Pacelli finally pulled through when it won the subsection 1A West girls golf invite for the first time in over a decade at the Oaks Golf Course in Hayfield Monday.

The Athletics haven’t won the meet since the merger of Lyle and Pacelli 11 years ago and they did it by rallying in the back-nine.

L/P trailed Blooming Prairie by 10 strokes after nine holes, but the Athletics got par scores from Emily Leif and Jennie Marx on hole No. 16 as they finished with a 446 to edge out the Awesome Blossoms, who took second with a 448.

“It was a great comeback and I didn’t think we had much of a chance at the break,” L/P head coach Mark Buntje said. “But they all shot a great second nine. They’ve got confidence (from a strong regular season) and it’s carried over to the tournament. There’s no doubt about that. This is the best year we’ve had in awhile.”

L/P and BP will both advance to play as a team at the Section 1A meet in Red Wing next Tuesday.

“We kind of let it slip, but we still shot well and I’m still proud of them for advancing,” BP head golf coach Erik Vigeland said.

For L/P senior Emily Leif, the win on Monday was much anticipated. She started golfing as a seventh grader.

“I’ve never been part of a team that won it,” she said. “I’ve taken fifth as an individual before, but to go (to sections) as a team means a lot.”

Leif shot a 109 to take seventh overall and sophomore Jennie Marx led L/P by shooting a 105 and taking fourth on a day were scores were high due to temperatures in the mid-90s with strong winds.

“The last time I played this course I had a 96, so I didn’t do as good,” Marx said. “I had an 11 on the first hole today, but then I pulled through. It was really tiring with the heat.”

L/P’s Maggie Leif finished 10th and Abby Leif finished 12th.

BP was led by senior Erin Johnson, who took third overall with a 103. Maggie Sorensen of BP took sixth with a 108.

For Southland, Shawna Lewno advanced to the Section 1A meet by scoring a 125 and finishing 16th.

“Shawna is the first Southland section qualifier on the girls’ side in a long, long time,” Southland head coach Tim Brennan said. ”All the girls have worked hard and I’m happy for her and our team.”

L/P scores: Jennie Marx, 105; Emily Leif, 109; Abby Leif, 117; Maggie Leif, 115; Alexis Balgeman, 133; Lauren Rieker, 148

BP scores: Erin Johnson, 103; Maggie Sorensen, 108; Jeana Johnson, 115; Krystal Klemmensen, 122; Anna Noble, 122; Katlyn Eischens, 127

Southland scores: Shawna Lewno, 125; Megan Harvey, 130; Emma Kirtz, 135; Emily Morrisette, 157; Cassandra Hanson, 163; Micayla Huntley, 171

Team scores: 1. L/P 446; 2. BP 448; 3. Kenyon/Wanamingo 460; 4. Faribault B.A. 474; 5. Alden/Conger 532; 6. Southland 547; 7. Glenville/Emmons 584