NATCHEZ — Golfers will scramble their way through Beau Pré County Club today to raise some money for future college students while also attempting to collect some prizes.

The Co-Lin Foundation Natchez Golf Classic is scheduled for 1 p.m. today and will feature 23 four-person teams.

“This year we look to have a spectacular event,” said Mark LaFrancis, Co-Lin Natchez director of public information. “We try to run a very fun and exciting tournament with a variety of on- and off-course prizes.”

LaFrancis said this is the 12th year of the tournament, which raises money for the Natchez campus’ student scholarship and faculty development fund.

LaFrancis said the tournament is the funds’ largest contributor, and it continues to grow each year.

“We’re hoping to generate more than $12,000 in proceeds after all expenses are paid,” he said. “That will be applied directly to the fund that was established from the tournament, which is close to $90,000 total in funds over the years. The more money in the fund and the more interest, the more scholarships we can afford.”

This year the tournament drew 20 corporate teams along with 95 corporate sponsors.

The format of the tournament is a four-person scramble with prizes given to the top finishing teams. There will be prizes up for grabs on each of Beau Pré’s par 3s and a longest drive prize.

There will be a chance for golfers to win a 2012 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab from Great River Chevrolet-Nissan for a hole-in-one, LaFrancis said.

After tournament play is completed there will be a ball drop. Tickets for the ball drop are $25, and 20 percent of all proceeds will be awarded up to $1,000.

LaFrancis said Beau Pré is a great host for the tournament.

“We started out at Beau Pré,” he said. “The tournament’s base has been at Beau Pré. Golfers from a variety of places outside our area like to come have a chance to play at Beau Pré.”

Lunch and registration begin at 11:30 a.m. today. The tournament begins with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. The ball drop is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.