Play was suspended due to bad weather and unplayable conditions in the first round of the 2001 Natchez Ladies and Senior Ladies Golf Championship Saturday at the Duncan Park Golf Course.

First-round play will resume at 9 a.m. today and the final round will get under way as scheduled at 1 p.m.

The only group that completed the front nine was the first group of ladies – defending champion Sally Durkin, Beverly Knapp, Peggy Berniard, Judy Powell and Mary Edwards.

Berniard was leading the tournament with a 38, Powell, the 1993, 1994 and 1995 ladies city champion with a 40; Edwards, the 1996 ladies city champion, and Knapp with a 41; and Durkin with a 44.

Durkin is trying to become the third golfer to three-peat as the ladies city champion.

Carrie Coco won the first three ladies city championshps in 1990, 1991 and 1992 and Powell won the next three.

&uot;I’ve been kayaking and backpacking in Maine for two weeks,&uot; Durkin said. I haven’t hit a golf ball in three weeks. This rain may be a blessing in disguise.&uot;

In the Natchez Senior Men’s, Super Senior Men’s and Legends Men’s Championship, Conner Robson was leading the senior men’s division after shooting an 80.

&uot;I hit some good irons today and some sorry shots,&uot; Robson said. &uot;I found a bad spot on my putter on the fifth hole. I then used my other putter that I had in my truck.&uot;

Tied for second place three shots back with 83s were Joe Brumfield and Danny Farr.

George Hude had an 87 and Dick Wilder had a 100.

In the super senior men’s division, Bob M. Dearing shot an 85 and will be paired with Robson, Brumfield and Farr in the final round. That foursome will tee off at 1:32 p.m. today.

&uot;I couldn’t get up and down,&uot; Dearing said. &uot;I hit well off the tee. I just couldn’t chip or putt. The course is in good shape.&uot;

In the legends men’s division, Peter Buttross shot a 93.

&uot;My putting was off. My approach shots weren’t too good,&uot; said Buttross, who said his goal on Sunday is to shoot an 88.

Hude, Buttross and Wilder will tee off at 1:40 p.m. today.