GREENSBORO, Ga. – Three Alabama golfers are among the top 15 to lead the 18^th-ranked men’s golf team to a first-round score of 11-under par 277 on Sunday at the Linger Longer Invitational. The Crimson Tide will enter Monday’s second round in fourth place, four shots back of No. 37 Georgia (-17). 

Jones Free paced Alabama in round one with a 5-under par 67 to end the day in fourth, while Connor Brown carded a 4-under 68 and is in sixth place. Dominic Clemons is in 15^th position at 2-under 70.

The second round of the three-day 54-hole event, played on the par 72, 7,436 yard Great Waters Golf Course at Reynolds Lake Oconee, will tee off Monday morning.

Individual Highlights

• Four of Jones Free’s team-leading seven birdies came on a bogey-less back nine on his way to shooting a 32
• Free was tied for second on the day in par 3 scoring at 2.50 (-2) and tied for third in total birdies
• The 5-under 67 marked Free’s fifth round in the 60s and eighth round of par or lower
• Connor Brown’s 4-under 68 marked a career-low 18-hole score, ending the day with six birdies and a pair of bogeys
• Brown ranked in a tie for sixth in par 4 scoring during round one (3.80, -2)
• Dominic Clemons’ round of 2-under 70 was his 10^th round this season of par or better
• Jonathan Griz is in a tie for 33^rd after he collected his team-leading 13^th round of par or better with an even par 72
• Griz recorded an eagle on the 576-yard par 5 14^th hole to go along with three birdies and five bogeys
• Nick Gross rounded out the starting five at 1-over par 73 to finish round one in a tie for 45^th
• Both Luke Coyle and Jack Mitchell are competing as individuals in the field
• Coyle is in a tie for 54^th at 2-over par 74 while Jack Mitchell is in a tie for 63^rd at 3-over 75

Team Highlights

• Alabama has won the previous two Linger Longer Invitationals, sweeping both the team and individual titles in 2023 and 2024
• UA leads all teams in the field in par 5 scoring (4.40, -12)
• No. 37 Georgia (-17) hold a one stroke lead over No. 35 USF (-16) and No. 17 South Carolina (-16)
• South Alabama (-4), Elon (-3) and No. 42 Charlotte (-1) round out the top seven teams and all the squads that finished below par in the 16-team field