NATCHEZ — Despite the downpours that have hit the Miss-Lou area in recent days, scores were quite low in the first round of the 2008 Wharlest Elks Lodge Invitational Saturday at Beau Pré Country Club.

In fact scores were so low that the only over-par rounds were in the third flight. Twenty-eight of the 33 teams participating in this year’s two-man scramble had rounds below even-par 72.

“If you looked at the radar at 12 o’clock, I would’ve never thought we would’ve gotten all 18 holes in,” Beau Pré golf pro Dwayne David said. “We had a 15-mintue delay. It turned out to be nice this afternoon. I thought the scoring was a little lower. Some good scores today.”

Four teams are tied for the lead in the championship flight at 10-under-par, 62 — Chuck Fields and Charlie Fife; Mel Beltzhoover and Jeff Anderson; David Harris and Bill Lambert; and Kevin Smith Jr. and Wesley Rogers. Three teams are just one shot back at 9-under-par 63 — Woody Allen and Kevin Smith; Randy Johnson and Jay Lessley; and C.C. Barnes and Bill Byrne.

Just two shots back at 8-under-par 64 are Adrian Sandel and Kurt Russ as well as Ken Tilghman and Jerry Lambuth. Because there were so many teams that shot 7-under-par 65, David decided to put them in the first flight to make it more competitive.

Due to the possible threat of inclement weather excepted this afternoon, Beau Pré golf pro Dwayne David said instead of having tee times with every group starting on No. 1, the final round will have a 9 a.m. shotgun start.

“We have a 70 percent chance of rain. We had a little adjustment,” David said.