NATCHEZ —Two former Natchez High School golf standouts returned to their hometown Sunday as they get set to partake in a college golf tournament, slated to begin today.

Royal Hill III, Rondall Hawkins Jr. and the rest of the Alcorn State golf team will host the Alcorn State Invitational at Duncan Park Golf Course today and Tuesday, and the two former Natchez High Bulldogs are more than excited to make the return trip home.

“This a big week for me,” Hill said. “Coming back and playing on my home course. (Alcorn) hasn’t played here in about a year, so it’s always good to come home and play, especially my senior year.”

Hawkins said having grown up in Natchez and played on the course countless times, the rising sophomore felt that will play to an advantage for him.

“It takes the pressure off,” he said. “Just knowing the course, it just feels good being at home … I know which shots to take on the holes.”

While Hill expressed a similar sentiment about having played the course, the veteran plans to share his wisdom with his teammates.

“I know this course in and out, like the back of my hand,” Hill said. “Being a veteran, I was just telling one of my teammates to line up on the side of the trouble and hit away from it. (Knowing the course) is not only going to be an advantage to me, but to the team as well.”

The Alcorn golf program is led by coach Andrew MacBean, and the first-year coach said he is eager to see what Hawkins and Hill are able to produce this week.

“Royal’s long game and short game is really good,” MacBean said. “(Hawkins’) long game is really good; he hits the ball about a mile.”

Hawkins said he’s learned a great deal from the new coach, and expects him to bring great things to the program in the years to come.

“He’s definitely making the program better,” Hawkins said. “We’re having more practice time, and we’re getting in the weight room, and he’s scheduling good tournaments for us. He’s an all-around good coach.”

But this week belongs to the Natchez natives, and both are eager to compete in front of friends and family.

“It feels good to have that support,” Hawkins said. “Having that in the back of my mind, it’s going to help me hit good shots on the course.”

It’s all the more meaningful for Hill, who places a special precedence on this tournament.

“I love playing in front of an audience, especially ones that I love,” Hill said. “Hopefully, that will improve my score a little bit.”

Hill is studying biology and pre-physical therapy and plans to graduate in May, while Hawkins continues to study biomedical engineering.

“So far, it’s been a great year,” Hill said. “We’ve been coming up short in tournaments, but every tournament, we’ve been getting better. Hopefully, with this being our home tournament, we can get a (win) this team.”