It didn’t take the Morgan Academy golf team long to qualify for the Alabama Independent School Association state tournament.

The Senators qualified as a team after finishing third Thursday in their opening tournament of the year at Arrowhead Country Club in Montgomery. Four Senators players — Jones Free, Gus Colvin, Thomas Morris and David Cothran qualified for state as well. All four players broke 90, which is how a player qualifies for state.

“We got that out of the way today,” said Morgan coach Ira Wagoner.

The Senators’ gross score was 324, which was good for third place in the 11 team field behind Lee-Scott, last season’s AISA state champion, and Glenwood. Teams have to shoot 360 or under in order to qualify for the state tournament, so the Senators cleared that hurdle easily.

Free was the team’s medalist. He shot 74 and finished in the top 10 of all players at the tournament. Each school is allowed a five-man team at the state tournament and as many individuals that shoot a qualifying score and participate in four matches.

Although Morgan finished highly, Wagoner thinks his team can and will play better as the season progresses.

“It was cool and windy and a little wet from the rain last night,” Wagoner said. “That’s not an excuse because two other teams played better than we did. I think we are going to play again Tuesday in Greenville and we are hoping for better results.”

Morgan’s first scheduled match of the season was Monday at Troy Country Club, but it was rained out. The Senators play again March 7 at Greenville Country Club.