NATCHEZ &045; The Mayor’s Cup was an almost unqualified success, sponsors of the event said.

The first annual event, held Saturday at Duncan Park Golf Course, had 91 participants, more than Mayor Philip West said he could have imagined would have come out.

&uot;I was surprised at the level of participation we got, especially because we had such short notice,&uot; West said. ‘I was reluctant to go ahead with the tournament, but now I’m glad we did when I see all you out here.&uot;

Gary Farmer, Bill McKenzie, Lloyd Trissler and Allen Tyra, playing for Natchez Community Hospital took the championship with a score of 126, two shots ahead of Richard Edgin, Paul Guido, Dan McKinney and Billy Ulmer in second place.

&uot;The key is to surround yourself with good players,&uot; Tyra said.

West says he plans to make the event an annual competition and hopes to make it one of the top tournaments in the area.

&uot;It’s good makings for something a lot bigger and better a year from now,&uot; West said.

The Cup was played in a &uot;shamble&uot; format. In a shamble, all four players hit a tee shot. Each player then takes a drop at the best of the four tee shots and plays the hole out from there. The best two scores count for the team.

&uot;I like this format. It puts pressure on everyone to hit it close and make puts,&uot; Tyra said.

Tyra also won the longest drive competition with his drive on the No. 17. Lee Martin, George Hude, Tim McCann and Paul Guido were closest to the hole on Nos. 6, 9, 13 and 15 respectively.

Natchez resident Everett Sanders, a friend of West’s, said he came out to support the course and the mayor. Asked how he and his team played, he said &uot;We had a lot of fun.&uot;

That sentiment seemed to be a general consensus among the players. Even those who didn’t finish high in the standings said they had fun at the event.

&uot;I don’t think there’s a better social event than a golf tournament,&uot; tournament director Marvin Gray said. &uot;We have some food, some fellowship, and a little golf mixed in.&uot;

West also thanked Timmy Givens, who prepared breakfast and lunch for the participants at the event. Many of the participants commented on how good the food was.

&uot;I thought the food today was excellent&uot; Tyra said.

The competition was also a nice showcase for the golf course, which has undertaken some new additions in the last two months. A 6,000 square foot practice putting green will replace a much smaller practice green, which will become a new tee box for the first hole. The sixth hole will also get a new tee box.

Gray said the new practice green will have its first mowing next week and should be ready to use very soon. The new tee boxes are also almost ready for play.