NATCHEZ — Weather was unkind to the golfers at Beau Pré Thursday for the 18th annual United Way Golf Scramble.

Two afternoon storms swept through the country club, the first delaying the start of the tournament and the second putting an end to play.

“The first (storm) came through a little after (noon), so we didn’t get started until 2 p.m. and were hoping to get through by 7 p.m.,” Beau Pré golf pro Tom Bryant said. “Another (storm) came through at around 4:30 p.m. or 5 p.m., and we decided we couldn’t finish anyway, and the course was saturated.”

It’s tough but there’s nothing we can do about it. You just have to handle the situation the best you can. It frustrates me, it frustrates the players and it is also frustrating for the fundraiser.”

Although the golfers were not able to finish their rounds, the main goal of raising money for United Way of the Greater Miss-Lou was accomplished, Executive Director Tiffany Mascagni said.

“(The tournament) was extremely successful,” Mascagni said. “The community showed up in full force, and we had (56) players.”

Each player’s $125 entry fee will go toward funding the 12 local agencies the organization supports.

United Way board member, and owner of Uptown Grocery, Richard Walcott said the players had a good time regardless of only getting to play half of the tournament.

“It’s too bad the weather cancelled the competition, but everybody had a good time,” he said. “The food and the prizes were great.”

Among those prizes was a huge gift package donated by the Isle of Capri. The prize was supposed to go to the winner of the ball drop, but weather cancelled that and there was a drawing instead.

David Cauthen won $500 cash, a free golf package and two nights at Isle of Capri’s Biloxi Resort, Mascagni said.

In addition to the entry fee, Mascagni said they received 24 hole sponsorships, each costing $100. Several other sponsors, such as Southwest Distributors, Pepsi-Cola of Natchez and Trace City Toyota, donated food, drinks and prizes.

Bryant said the tournament is primarily for fun and to raise money for the organization.

“(This tournament) is good for the United Way, and a lot of the people that show up to play do it in support of United Way,” Bryant said. “It’s a loose atmosphere, and we have a good time and get money to United Way.”

Mascagni said the golfers in the tournament ranged from high school players to players in their 70s. It also featured one female golfer, Diana Glaze.

Mascagni said United Way’s goal is to raise $175,000 for its agencies in this year’s campaign. Events like the golf tournament and the Jambalaya Cook off coming up August 26 help United Way reach that goal.

Sign-up for the cook off teams is under way and interested teams can contact the United Way at 601-442-1081, Mascagni said.

The 12 local agencies United Way supports are: Adams County 4-H, Adams County CASA, Adams County Red Cross, Catholic Charities Counseling, Catholic Charities Emergency Assistance, Concordia Council on Aging, Guardian Sexual Assault Center, Guardian Shelter for Battered Families, Natchez-Adams County Council on Aging, Natchez- Adams County Habitat for Humanity, Salvation Army and T.M. Jennings Little League Baseball.