After a great first day at the Alabama Independent School Association golf championships, youthful Morgan Academy has a chance at a top two finish.

The Senators shot a team score of 337 (49 over par) Monday at RTJ at Cambrian Ridge in Greenville. That score has Morgan two shots ahead of Glenwood School and three ahead of Tuscaloosa Academy in what has turned into a battle for second place.

“We like our chances tomorrow. I know we’ll have a better day,” said Morgan Academy golf coach Ira Wagoner. “We’ll look forward to it.”

Going in, Lee-Scott Academy was the prohibitive favorite to win the competition and the Warriors showed why Monday. Led by Turk Pettit and Davis Thompson, Lee-Scott shot 292 and has a 45 shot lead going into Tuesday’s final round. Pettit also leads the individual competition after a 6-under, 64. Thompson is in second after a 2-under, 70.

They were the only two players to shoot under par scores during day one.

Wagoner said all of Morgan Academy’s players were paired with players from Lee-Scott during the first round. He said the Senators looked at the pairings as a challenge.

“We’re not scared of them. I think we’re past that point in their maturity, and I think it’ll only get better,” Wagoner said.

Thomas Morris, an eighth grader, had the best day of any Senators’ player on Monday. He shot a 4-over, 76, and finished the day tied for fifth in the individual competition. He’ll start day two twelve behind Pettit, but only six shots out of second place.

Outside of Morris, Wagoner said Morgan didn’t play its best golf Monday, but he’s optimistic the Senators will have a great day Tuesday. Morgan has one of the youngest teams in the competition.

Seventh grader Jones Free shot an 81 (9 over), eighth grader Gus Colvin an 87 (15 over), tenth grader Sam Brackin a 93 (21 over) and ninth grader David Cothran a 102 (30 over) for the Senators in the team competition.

Several others played in the individual competition only.

Morgan Academy’s Harrison Adams shot 91 (19 over), Jackson Pearce finished with a 109 (37 over) and Will Alison shot 115 (43 over). Wagoner said he’s unsure of the last time Morgan Academy had a top three finish in the AISA’s state golf competition, but estimated that it’s been around 10 years.