NATCHEZ — With Larry Wagoner’s surprising withdrawal from the 2008 Natchez Senior Men and Ladies City Golf Championships, all Natchez’s Bill Byrne had to do was make sure he didn’t get in any serious trouble.

And while defending champion K.G. Watkins made the battle for the Senior Men’s City Championship interesting on the back nine, Byrne used a key three-hole stretch to shoot a final-round 3-over-par 74 at the Duncan Park Golf Course for a two-day total of 145 and a three-shot win over Watkins.

“(I had) two bogeys and one birdie on the front — bogeyed 10 and three-putted on 13 for bogey. I birdied two of the last five and finished bogey-bogey,” Byrne said.

At first, Byrne said he hadn’t really thought about being the new Senior Men’s City champion because, as he put it, “the course got the best of me.” Then he went on to say, “I’m pleased to win. The course is in great shape. I enjoyed the comraderie of the 50-plus guys.”

Wagoner, the first-round leader, who is from Ferriday, had to withdraw from the tournament after completing the front nine due to a beacon meeting at Dunbarton Baptist Church in Frogmore, La.

So instead of a possible three-way battle for the championship, it went down to Byrne and Watkins. And thanks to birdies on No. 14 and No. 16 with a par on No. 15 sandwiched in between, Byrne was able to hold off a hard-charging Watkins.

“It was getting tight on 13. That three-hole stretch gave me a five-shot lead with two holes to go,” Byrne said. “I made a five-foot putt on 14, a six-foot putt on 15 and an eight-foot putt on 16.”

Even though Byrne bogeyed 17 and 18, Watkins was not able to make up any ground on the new champion. Watkins shot a final-round 1-over-par 72 to finish with a two-day score of 148.

“Frustrating. Better than yesterday. Yesterday was the determining factor. You never win a tournament on a Saturday, but you sure can lose one,” said Watkins, who is also from Natchez is now the new varsity boys head basketball coach at Block High School in Jonesville, La.

Watkins’ attempt at a third Senior Men’s title and fourth straight ‘major’ championship – he also won the 2006 Men’s City Championship – at Duncan Park wasn’t the only streak that came to an end. So was Clayton Foster’s try at five in a row.

After winning the Super Senior Men’s title in 2004 and 2005, Foster had won back-to-back Legends (Grand Masters) Men’s championships as was looking to win that championship for the third year in a row.

Unfortunately for him, it wasn’t meant to be as Cornelius Lewis of Natchez won the 70-plus division with a final-round 78 for a two-day score of 152. Foster finished second after his round of 80 put him at 155.

“I hit some good shots, but I didn’t play as well as I did yesterday,” Lewis said. “I enjoyed those two days. I’m looking forward to next year. I enjoyed playing with Clayton. I think I played with him once before.”

Joe Brumfield of Natchez overcame a bogey on No. 4 and a double bogey on the par-5 5th hole to shoot an even-par 71 to rally past Prem Vidhana and win the Super Seniors Men’s championship with a two-day score of 149.

“You just got to take it one shot at a time. Putter was working extremely well. I had a super shot on 11 that led to a birdie and I came back with a birdie on 17 and 18. My putter was hot today,” Brumfield said.

This was Brumfield’s appearance in the Senior Men’s City Championships since winning three straight in the Senior (50-59) division from 1993 to 1995. What a time to make his comeback.

The birdies he made on 17 and 18 weren’t easy putts, either. He made a 14-footer that broke from right to left and the putt he made on 18, from 12 feet away, also broke from right to left.

Sonja Blaney of Natchez, the only female golfer participating in this year’s Natchez Ladies City Championship, shot a final-round 90 to finish at 184.

There was also a hole-in-one during Sunday’s final round. Emmitt Book had his first-ever hole-in-one on the par-3 9th hole from 116 yards out with a pitching wedge.

Witnesses to Book’s ace were Mike Smith of Natchez, George Hude of Natchez and Charles Foster of Sicily Island, La.

“I told them I had to have a hole-in-one to break 90. It was one of the best shots I ever hit in my life,” Book said. “I knew it was going to be close. It bounced twice and went in the hole.”

How did Book celebrate the achievement? “I did a snow angel in the straw and leaves on the tee box. I laid down and kissed the ground.”

Charles Foster complimented Greg Brooking and the staff for getting the course ready for the tournament.

“Greg and the staff here have done a great job with the course and the greens. It’s one of the best 18-hole courses. As far as a private course, it’s one of the best in the state, comparable to Clear Creek in Vicksburg and Black Berry in Poverty Point, La.,” Foster said.