Joe Fortunato golf scramble this weekend

Published 12:00 am Saturday, May 31, 2003

NATCHEZ &045; Everything is set to go for this weekend’s Joe Fortunato Celebrity Golf Classic, but there’s one thing still lingering.

The weather.

But of the things tournament organizers can control, the participation, prizes and celebrities are lined up for this weekend’s classic. Action begins 8 a.m. Saturday and ends Sunday afternoon at Duncan Park in what is the major fund-raiser for the Miss-Lou chapter of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame.

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&uot;It’s turning out real well right now,&uot; chapter president Scott Kimbrell said. &uot;We ought to have a full field, so we’re looking forward to that. It’s just the weather now. We’ll have to see how that all works out.&uot;

The tournament is a four-man scramble and is open to the first 200 players. Entry fee is $125, and at the end of the day Thursday registration was up to 180 players.

Activities begin at 5:30 p.m. today with a Pairings Party at Duncan Park, and tee times begin at 8 a.m. Saturday.

Celebrities this year include former football standouts Ross Brubaker and Nolan Smith, former Mississippi State and NBA player Bailey Howell and Delta State head football coach Rick Rhodes.

&uot;This raises the money for the scholarships we give out in February,&uot; Kimbrell said. &uot;This is our fund-raiser, and this is why people play in it &045; to help raise money for the scholarships we give. We’re giving about $7,000 worth of scholarships each year, which is pretty good.&uot;

The scramble also features four hole-in-one prizes courtesy of Great River Olds. A hole-in-one at Hole No. 13 Sunday wins a 2003 Chevy Impala, and one on No. 6 Sunday wins GMAC Smartcare and Nike wedges. Hole No. 9 on Saturday wins a 36 dozen Double C golf balls, and No. 15 on Saturday will win a Nike forged titanium driver.