FERRIDAY, La. –&160;Two teams shared the championship in the inaugural Panola Woods Colonel Classic at Panola Woods Country Club, but a Ferriday native was the big winner.

The teams of Keith Jackson, Lee Wright and Tom Bryant; and Jeff Russell, Mike Kelly and Barry Starkwell both shot 59s to finish first in the championship flight. The team of Pat Hinton, Jess Horton and Art Eidt was third at 60.

The tournament was a fund-raiser for the Nicholls State football program. Ferriday’s Daryl Daye, who will be starting his second year as Nicholls State, was appreciative of the event.

&uot;I’m not sure how much was raised, but I’m anxious to see because I know we did real well,&uot; Daye said. &uot;The community came out and really supported us. It was a great time.&uot;

Daye, who played college football and was a graduate assistant at LSU, took over at Nicholls State after serving as an assistant coach at Liberty University.

Daye begins fall drills on Aug. 6 when freshmen report.

His practices will be held on a different practice field than normal for eight days as the New Orleans Saints on holding summer drills at NSU.

&uot;It’s unbelievable,&uot; Daye said of the Saints working out in Thibodaux. &uot;Our coaches get to sit in on some of the meetings and clinics and see the drills. And our players to get to see a different type of work ethic. It’s no cake walk because there’s big money involved and these coaches are trying to the right players.&uot;

The Saints fine-tuned NSU’s football facilities before invading the campus.

&uot;Our facilities are now as nice as anybody’s in Division I-AA and even in lower I-A,&uot; Daye said. &uot;We can’t take a back seat to anybody.&uot;

It also helps recruiting, he said.

&uot;A lot of high school players will come watch the Saints, and just knowing an NFL team is right there is a big bonus for us. Anyone who signs with us will get that extra look, which makes coming to Nicholls State that much more appealing.&uot;

Daye said he is anxious for fall drills to begin.

&uot;I’ve been doing this (fall practice) since the fourth grade, so this time of year my body just starts getting ready,&uot; he said. &uot;I really don’t know how it would be without it.&uot;

Two teams tied for the first flight title with 64. The team of Jason Stringer, Danny Park and Larry Wagoner shared top honors in the flight with the team of David Jones, Wayne Miley and Don Tassin.