Jones Free set his sights on winning the 91^st annual Selma Country Club Invitational Men’s Golf Tournament last year.

Free built a comfortable lead to win the tournament by one shot over Nick Sparks on Sunday at the Selma County Club.

A rising junior on the Morgan Academy golf team, Free had a two-day total of 141 to capture the first-place prize of $400 in pro shop credit and a silver trophy.

Free said last year’s second-place finish provided motivation to win the tournament, where 69 golfers competed.

“I’m real excited to win this tournament,” Free said. “All of the support at the country club has been great.”

Free, who was among the early finishers from the 12:30 p.m. shotgun start, expected a challenge from Sparks.  But Sparks triple bogeyed on the 18^th hole, allowing Free to capture the tournament.

“I was ahead, but I thought Sparks and I would go into a playoff,” Free said.  “I didn’t make any bad mistakes and I didn’t bogey.”

Free, considered one of the state’s top prep golfers, said winning the event will provide momentum at Morgan Academy next year. He helped Morgan Academy win a second straight AISA state golf championship and the Senators will be favored again in 2020.

“I’m excited for next year’s golf team,” Free said. “We’re losing a lot of good golfers, but we will still have a good team.”

Phillip Nader was third with a two-day score of 143.