NATCHEZ &045; The best part about the annual Bill McKenney city golf championship may not be whether or not you can get your name engraved on the trophy.

But it sure would be nice.

About 90 golfers are expected to arrive at Duncan Park this morning for the annual tournament with several coming from areas beyond the Miss-Lou. Former champs and old friends will compete today for the title of city golf champ in the two-day event that’s become an annual summer trip for many.

P.Z. Brewer, who claimed his second title last year after winning in 1995, had a chance to play a practice round with longtime friend Pete Powell &045; himself an 11-time champ &045; Friday to get tuned up.

&uot;I like playing in this tournament,&uot; Brewer said. &uot;It’s always just a great tournament to be involved in. Everybody loved (longtime Duncan Pro) Bill McKenney so much. I’m sure I’ve missed a few years, but I’m sure I made the last 10 in a row. I just enjoy coming and playing. You get to see old friends, and it’s just a fun time.&uot;

As of Friday afternoon when the tee times were released, the tournament had 66 signed up, but more are expected later in the day and early this morning. A number of former champs are in it this time, including Powell, Greg Brooking (five-time winner), Clay Arnold (1985 champ), Jay Lessley (2003) and Lee Jones (2002).

&uot;There are a lot of people who play in this because it’s the Bill McKenney tournament,&uot; said Chuck Fields, who finished second at last year’s tournament by one stroke. &uot;He was the pro out there for years, and when he died a group of guys got together to buy the Bill McKenney trophy. He was the pro when I was growing up. It would mean a lot to win it.&uot;

The total number of entries could end up anywhere from 80 to 100, master pro Marvin Gray said. That’s about average for a tournament that’s about as guaranteed a good time as it will be hot and humid by late afternoon.

And the weather report &045; what else could it be this time of year? &045; should allow for two good days on the links.

&uot;A lot of them are still waiting to see what the weather is going to do,&uot; Gray said. &uot;Ninety-six is a full field, and a lot of players basically wait for the last day to sign up. The golf course is real nice. The golf course will be better than it’s ever been in the history of the tournament.&uot;

Efforts from the city and the men’s golf association has helped improve the course’s greens and fairways for the tournament.

The golf association helped fund a new No. 1 championship tee and a 9,000-square foot practice green with an 18-hole putting course.

&uot;The city has stepped up,&uot; Gray said. &uot;The fairways are mowed down, and the greens are nice. The golf course is going to play great. The needed improvements have just added a lot to the golf facility. It’s fun to see diverse groups come together to make things happen like that.&uot;

The improvements could make for low scores, but the top two finishers from last summer hope to finish somewhere near where they did last year. Brewer admitted everything went right for him on the first day last year as he finished with a 3-under par, and from there he rode out the win despite coming up with a 73 on the second day.

Fields countered with a 72.

&uot;I’m not playing real well, but you never know,&uot; Brewer said. &uot;I just played pretty good both days (last year). I didn’t have any major mistakes. I just felt really comfortable with my game and played two solid rounds of golf. A lot of times you’ll have one or two bad h holes, but I never did that. I made par, birdie, par, birdie.&uot;

Fields came back with solid second day last year but couldn’t catch Brewer after falling behind by two strokes on the first day. That was the best finish by Fields in the years he’s participated in the tournament and the best day he’s ever had on the course.

Even after Brewer double-bogeyed on the 16th hole, Fields bogeyed to sit one shot back.

&uot;It was probably my best chance to win it,&uot; Fields said. &uot;I probably blew it. That’s really pretty good golf for me. That’s about as good as I could play, but (Brewer) played as well as he could play.

&uot;They always on the second day try to make the course a little tougher. It’s not unusual for the second-day scores to be a little higher.&uot;

Anyone who scores as low as they did after today’s round has a shot. Brewer was one of six last summer to finish Saturday under par, including Jamie Spring and Howard Jones at two-under.

The second day, however, told the story. Spring and Jones slid out of the top 10 on Sunday, and Fields was the only one to finish under par.

&uot;I played really well last year,&uot; Brewer said. &uot;I’ve been so busy at work (this year) and have grandchildren who have a lot of things going on in their lives. I guess golf is like riding a bicycle &045; you’re not going to lose it all. You never know, but I’ll be out there trying.&uot;