Over 70 Mississippi and Louisiana youth are working up a Turkey Day appetite at the 2000 Gulf States Junior Tour Thanksgiving Classic at Beau Pr\u00E9 Country Club.

In yesterday’s first round of the two-day event, Natchez resident Lee Jones shot a 77 to finish the day fourth overall and lead the 12-13 age division.

&uot;I hit the ball good today,&uot; the Trinity student said. &uot;I missed a few puts I should have made, but I’m all-around satisfied with the way I played.&uot;

Jones said he played at Beau Pr\u00E9 often last summer and his familiarity with the course was an advantage. &uot;But I still had to go out there and play,&uot; he said.

Jones, who has played golf for five years, is the son of Howard and Sally Jones.

The overall boys leader is Chris Jones, a Baton Rouge, La., resident who shot a 73 to lead the 14-15 age group easily.

Morgan Landry of Lafayette, La., and Travis Meyer of Lake Charles, La., each shot a 76 to tie for third overall.

Clinton Shepard, of West Monroe, La., shot a 42 on a nine-hole course to lead the 10-11 age division.

In the girls’ division, Amanda Mathis of Picayune shot a 77 to take the overall lead. Leigh Phillips of Meridian shot a 47 on nine holes to lead the younger division.

This is the second year the event has been held at Beau Pr\u00E9, said Todd Wright, the tournament director of the Gulf States section of the PGA.