Seven months ago at the Watersound Invitational, William Jennings was on his way to beginning his college career with a second straight round in the 90s when Alabama head coach Jay Seawell intervened.

“He was drowning, so as his coach, I threw the life preserver in,” said Seawell, who took Jennings’ scorecard on the 18th hole and withdrew his struggling freshman.

“I remember the conversation I had with him,” Seawell added. “I said, ‘I can’t wait until these tears turn into smiles.’”

That transformational day came Wednesday in Grand Haven, Michigan, where Jennings, a sophomore from Greenville, South Carolina, opened the Tide’s season with an individual victory at the Folds of Honor Collegiate. Jennings, in just his second full college tournament, shot 4 under and held on for a one-shot w

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