NATCHEZ — Duncan Park, together with the Mississippi Golf Association, will host the Norman Puckett Memorial Junior Golf Tournament Monday at 9 a.m.

Greg Brooking, the Duncan Park Golf Course superintendent, said roughly 35 children have signed up, and he’s hoping more locals will show interest.

“We have a lot of kids coming from out of town to play, and I mean a whole lot of kids,” Brooking said.

“It’s going to be an MGA-sanctioned event, so those officials will be here to run it. The kids will get points toward the MGA cup team depending on how they finish.”

And Brooking said he was told by the MGA that the prizes being given out surpass anything that children are rewarded with at other junior events.

“We’ll be giving away golf clubs, golf balls, etc. Our prizes are one of the reasons we’re able to attract so much out-of-town interest,” Brooking said.

“Having the MGA involved also helps a lot with that. By putting Natchez on the circuit, we have untold numbers of people coming and staying in Natchez. It’s a good economic development tool, and I’m all for economic development.”

Both boys and girls ages 6 to 18 can participate, Brooking said, and there will be eight different age divisions.

“This is the inaugural year for the tournament. We’d eventually like to get it up to a 36-hole, two-day event, but we have to get it started first,” Brooking said.

“If we can ever get upwards of 60 kids consistently, we could have one heck of a tournament.”

For more information, call Brooking at 601-248-4913.