Thirteen-year-old Lee Jones shot an opening-round 77 on Wednesday to take a nine-shot lead in the Open Division of the 2000 Natchez Junior Golf Championship at the Duncan Park Golf Course.

&uot;This year we’ll crown the youngest Natchez Junior Golf Champion ever,&uot; said Duncan Park golf pro Marvin Gray.

Jones’s competiton in the Open Division, 14-year-old Danny Barlow, had an 86.

&uot;It was hard, but it was one of my best competitive rounds this year,&uot; said Jones, who has played four years with the Gulf States Junior Golf Association.

&uot;I lost it on the first couple of holes,&uot; said Barlow, who is in his first year with the GSJGA. &uot;My driving was real good, but I missed a couple of short putts on the front nine.

However, &uot;On the par-four seventh hole I had a five-foot eagle putt,&uot; he added.

Jon-Davis King leads the 12-14 Division (9 holes) after firing an opening-round 43. Seven shots behind, in second place, is Jake Williams, who shot a 50.

&uot;I played pretty good until the last couple of holes, which I played very bad,&uot; King said.

King said this was his second year with the Gulf States Junior Golf Association and his fourth year playing at this tournament.

Zach Rogel is in third place after a first-round 59. Sam Couvillon is one stroke behind Rogel with a 60. Van Staggs and Jamie Morris are tied for fifth, each shooting a 62. Taylor Fleming is in seventh place with an 80.

&uot;I played my worst game ever,&uot; Fleming said.

Jake Kaiser leads the 11-and-under Division (7 holes) with a 32, followed by Geoffrey Martin, who had a 60, and Dane Garner, who had a 71.

Final-round action begins today at 2 p.m.