Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Morgan Academy junior golfer Jones Free won his first golf tournament of the year last week.

Free won his age group at the Southeastern Junior Golf Tour’s Wynlakes Shootout that was played May 27-28 at the Wynlakes Golf and Country Club in Montgomery.

Free defeated Drew Wilson of Potts Camp, Mississippi by one shot to win the 16-19 year-old age group. Free shot 1-over-par for a two-day total of 145.

The future University of Alabama golfer said he was thrilled to win.

“It felt great to win my first tournament this year,” Free said. “I had 17 greens, but I was disappointed in my putting. I had 37 putts on the first day.”

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellations  of several amateur golf tournaments during the spring, some that Free was scheduled to compete in.

When Gov. Kay Ivey ordered the closing of schools K-12 statewide and the AISA cancelling spring sports,  Morgan Academy was denied a chance to win a third straight AISA state golf championship under coach Will Pearce. He was low medalist last year.

Free said the Senators squad that consisted of himself, Thomas Morris, Gus Colvin, Arrington Mooney, George Turner, Brody Roberts, Tayem Hammad, Jude Assad, Fair Garner and Will Allison would’ve been hard to beat.

“Not playing golf was devastating,” Free said. “We had one of our best golf teams at Morgan Academy.”

Free, who won seven tournaments last year, said he spent time fine-tuning his golf game during the coronavirus.

“I was never off, I still practiced while we were quarantined,” Free said.

Free said he’s looking forward to competing in tournaments this summer, including defending his title at the 71st Press Thornton Future Masters Golf Tournament.

“I’m excited about the summer, I’m playing the best golf I ever played,” Free said.