NATCHEZ — Even though the 2011 Joe Fortunato Celebrity Golf Classic was in a one-day format for the third year in a row, the turnout for this year’s tournament was better than many people expected.

And that includes the likes of Walt Brown, the outgoing president of the Miss-Lou Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, and Catherine Fortunato.

“We’re having a good turnout. We had 26 teams (in the four-man scramble), and beautiful weather. Guests include Bailey Howell, Noland Smith, Perry Harrington and Jack Benson,” Catherine Fortunato said. “It’s tough times economically.”

Add to that the flooding along the Mississippi River, which forced some of the participants, including Allen Brown, to be involved in the moving of furniture, family and friends.

“We were very fortunate to have the greatest basketball player in Mississippi State history (Bailey Howell),” Walt Brown said. “He took time out of his busy schedule to be here.

“The main reason we’re here is to raise money for scholarships for six very deserving scholar athletes.”

The foundation splits $10,000 among one senior scholar athlete from each of the six local schools — Adams County Christian School, Cathedral, Natchez High, Trinity Episcopal, Vidalia High and Ferriday High.

Joe Fortunato, the man this tournament was named after, wanted to thank everyone involved in the tournament – the sponsors, the donors, the participants, the players and the community.

And the golf itself wasn’t too bad, either. In fact, history was made in this event.

The team of Greg Brooking, Dan Bland, Kinney Carlton and Phillip West shot a tournament-record 19-under-par 52 to win the championship flight by two shots. Their round included two chip-ins — one by Carlton for eagle on No. 7 and the other by Brooking for birdie on No. 13.

“We had two eagles. The other was on No. 10. We had 15 birdies and one par, which was on No. 15, a par-3. We birdied three of the par-3s,” Brooking said. “I’ve never shot that low before in a scramble. When you miss greens and chip in – everything went perfect.”

Bland added, “Today I had the honor of playing with Greg Brooking, who is the top senior in the state of Mississippi and I found out why. Me, Phillip West and Kinney Carlton rode along with Greg. We should’ve charged him for admission. Phillip is the greatest sand player we’ve got.”

Second place went to Dr. Jeff Anderson, Wesley Rogers, Casey Ham and Tom Matthews, who teamed up to shoot 17-under-par 54.

“We played well. Good team effort,” Ham said. “Made an eagle on 14. Made an eagle on 7. Missed an eagle on 1 that could’ve changed things. We had a blast. They put on a good tournament.”

The team of Bubba Bruce, Al Strickland, Bubba Moak and George Hude beat out two other teams in a scorecard playoff after all three teams finished at 15-under-par 56.

“We had fun. We had a fun group,” Bruce said. “We shot 9-under on the front and 6-under on the back. We had a couple of eagle putts that we missed. We had music going on in the golf cart.”

Harrington, who played running back for four years with the Philadelphia Eagles and two years with the then-St. Louis Cardinals, was on a team with Jordan Farmer, Glenn Williams and Ed Zuccaro that finished second in the first flight on a scorecard playoff after four teams had rounds of 12-under-par 59.

“I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Couple of great players and myself. The course is in great shape,” Harrington said.

Smith and Benson were teamed with Brad Fondren and Ed Davis and they shot a round of 64, but just missed out being in the top three in the third flight on a scorecard playoff.

“We had a ton of fun. Weather was nice and pretty. Couldn’t ask for a better day,” Smith said. “It’s all about raising funds for charity and meeting new friends and playing with old friends.”

As to whether the Joe Fortunato Celebrity Golf Classic could possibly go back to being a two-day tournament, Brown said. “It might. It takes a lot of effort to put this on. We need more members to join the foundation. We do everything. We do all the cooking. It sure is gratifying when all this comes out in February. I think one of the neatest things evens we have in Natchez is the banquet…and the Joe Fortunato Celebrity Golf Classic.”