Watkins near perfect at City Championship

Published 12:00 am Monday, October 25, 2010

NATCHEZ — K.G. Watkins had as close to a perfect round as you could have at the Duncan Park Golf Course. And he did so in the final round of not only the city’s but the area’s most well-known tournaments.

Watkins got off to a blazing start and never looked back en route to a round of 7-under-par 64 on Sunday afternoon at the 2010 Senior Men’s and Ladies City Golf Championships to finish with a two-day score of 133 to win the Senior Men’s (50-59) division by an astounding eight shots.

And if that wasn’t enough, the 64 was the lowest round ever for Watkins at Duncan Park.

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“It was a good day. I started with an eagle on the 1st hole. I had two additional birdies on 2 and 3. I birdied 5. After 5 holes, I was 5-under,” Watkins said.

Another birdie on the sometimes difficult par-4 8th hole put Watkins at 6-under-par and he had a golden opportunity to shoot 7-under-par 28 on the front nine. Instead, he wound up three-putting for bogey on the par-3 9th hole and had to settle for a 30.

Watkins added two more birdies and, just as important, no bogeys on the back nine to cap off his amazing performance.

“It was just a perfect day. I had a lot of other personal things on my mind, so I didn’t have to worry about my round,” Watkins said. “It was just a matter of finishing. The putter was phenomenal today.”

Duncan Park Golf Course Superintendent Greg Brooking was paired with Watkins.

“It was a joy to watch that kind of golf being played. K.G. had eight putts on the first eight holes,” Brooking said. “We had a real good group and some good scores were shot. The scores were more impressive today,”

Brooking had a strong final round himself as he shot a 4-under-par 67 to finish second with a two-day score of 141.

“I played good today. I had 15 greens in regulation. I putted kind of bad,” Brooking said. “But I still had a good round. I made only one birdie on the front. I chipped in for eagle on 12. I birdied 14 and 16. I three-putted on 11.”

Larry Wagoner didn’t have the round he was hoping for as his putter let him down as he shot a 75 to finish third with a two-day total of 145.

“I tripled-bogeyed No. 6. I three-putted three times. So that pretty much took me out of it,” Wagoner said.

Despite a fourth-place finish with a two-day total of 148, Bubba Bruce had one of the best rounds of the day with a 1-under-par 70.

“I played consistent golf and had five birdies today. I made putts today that I didn’t make yesterday,” Bruce said. “I just had a good time.”

In the Ladies Open division, Judy Powell won the championship with her second round of 79 for a two-day score of 158.

“I struggled today. I played my misses. I did make a birdie. I birdied 18,” Powell said. “I had a lot of fun playing with those ladies, Fran (Farmer) and Mia (Taylor). Course was nice. It was hot.”

Farmer finished in second place after shooting a final-round 83 to finish at 169.

“The first day it wasn’t very good. Today I played much better,” Farmer said. “I had three birdies today and played three shots better. I enjoyed playing with Judy and Mia.”

Rose Smith fired a final-round 91 to end up in third place with a two-day total of 188.

First place in the Super Senior Men’s (60-69) division went to Pete Powell, who shot even-par 71 on Sunday for a two-day score of 141 — a good 16 shots ahead of second-place George Hude.

“I played like I was 62. I had four birdies and four bogeys. What made it tough was the way the wind was blowing. It was constantly changing directions,” Pete Powell said. “The way they had the course set up was if you’re going to drive the ball good, you’re going to score. I didn’t drive the ball good. I shot a lot worse than that when I was younger. Twenty years ago, I struggled to break 80 out here.”

George Hude struggled to get anything going during the final round and it showed as he shot 81 to finish at 157.

“I didn’t hit it as good today. Too many double bogeys. I had four double bogeys,” Hude said.

Emmit Book had a final-round 84 on Sunday to finish third with a two-day score of 167.

“If I just could’ve done better on the back nine both days, I would’ve done better. I wouldn’t have caught Pete, but I might would’ve caught George,” Book said. “It’s a good tournament. I enjoyed the people I played with today and yesterday. I’ll be back after them next year. Maybe not Pete, but definitely George.”

Cloyce Hinton shot a final-round 82 to finish in a tie for fourth place with Paul Davis at 169.

“It’s just not fair for the rest of the seniors in Natchez to play Pete Powell,” Hinton said.

Cornelius Lewis, 79, shot a 75 to win the Legend Men’s (70-95) division with a two-day score of 154. Singleton came in second place with a final-round 76 for a two-day total of 156 while Brumfield shot an 81 to finish third at 158.

Foster ended up having to withdraw from the tournament on the back nine.