NATCHEZ — Some of the best junior golfers from around the state, and a few from Louisiana, descended on the Duncan Park Golf Course Monday for the 2012 Norman Puckett Memorial Junior Golf Championship.

And while Wilson Furr of Jackson, who just turned 14 years old, won both the boys’ 14-15 division (Division B) and the overall boys’ championship with a round of 1-under-par 70, it was a 12-year-old from Jackson who stole the show.

Charlie Miller, playing in the boys’ 12-13 division (Division C) and from the white tees, blistered the back nine — his first nine holes of the day — en route to shooting 5-under-par 31. He cooled off a bit on the front nine and wound up with a 35 for an 18-hole score of 6-under-par 65.

Miller finished with eight birdies to go with a double bogey on No. 4. He birdied both par-5s on the back nine and after a birdie on No. 1, his 10th hole of the day, he was sitting at 6-under-par.

“There were a lot of short holes on the course. I had a lot of birdie opportunities. But there are some tight holes where you have to get it on the fairways,” Miller said. “The course is pretty nice. I knew that birdies were out there. I just needed to make it happen.”

However, because he was playing from the white tees that the boys’ 12- and 13-year-olds were playing from instead of the blue tees that the older boys were playing from, he was not eligible for the overall championship.

Instead, that honor went to Furr, who overcame a slow start by shooting 2-under-par 34 on the back nine. He finished with four birdies and three bogeys.

“It feels good (to be the overall champion), I guess. I kind of got off to a slow start. I was 1-over at the turn,” Furr said. “(The course) was in good shape. I’m sure I could (have played better). I’m fine with a 70. I just tried to play as well as I could, and tried not to make too many big mistakes.”

Seventeen-year-old Parker Rutherford of Vicksburg won the boys’ 16-18 division (Division A) with a round over even-par 71.

“I had a lot of pars and missed a few birdie opportunities,” Rutherford said. “I had a couple of good par saves. I’m a little disappointed that I didn’t shoot a little better. But overall, I’m pleased.”

Sudden-death playoffs determined second and third places in each of those three divisions.

In Division A, 17-year-old William Lee of Brookhaven finished second after making a putt for par on the No. 1 — the third playoff hole. Ross Bell had to settle for third after bogeying the hole. Both finished at 3-over-par 74.

In Division B, Grant Renegar of Summit battled 15-year-old Sanders Ott in a playoff that took three holes after both of them had rounds of 2-over-par 73. Renegar won the playoff with a birdie on No. 1 while Ott had to settle for a par.

In Division C, Matt Liddon of Yazoo City took on Benjamin Nelson of Madison after both of them had solid rounds of 1-under-par 70. Liddon won the playoff on No. 2 – the second playoff hole.

Fifteen-year-old Laura Phillips of Vicksburg won the Norman Puckett Girls Junior Championship with a round of 80.

“I played pretty well. I know I left a few putts out there. I was satisfied with my score,” Phillips said. “I didn’t think (the course) was that tough. The front nine was harder than the back nine.”

Sara Ruth Andrews finished second at 93 and Lily Sims of Vidalia was third with a round of 94.

Eleven-year-old Hunter Logan of Grenada won the Boys 10-12 division (Division D) with a nine-hole score of 1-under-par 35.

“I was hitting the ball pretty good. I was hitting some irons close to the green. My putting just wasn’t on today,” Logan said.

Kale Fontenot of Lafayette, La., won the Boys’ 9 & Under division (Division E) with a nine-hole score of 39.

“I played good. It was a lot of fun. The first hole (No. 10) was the toughest hole,” Kale Fontenot said.

Among those who watched Kale Fontenot on the course was his grandfather, Nick Fontenot, who lives part-time in Natchez.

“It was great. Our grandson did very well. I’d like to see him come back,” Nick Fontenot said. “It’s a great event for these kids. I thoroughly enjoyed watching my grandson.”

Canon Clark, who is also from Lafayette, finished second with a score of 41.

Twelve-year-old Karley Whittington of Vicksburg won the Girls’ 10-12 division (G D Division) with an impressive nine-hole score of 37.

“I shot 37, and I think I played good,” Whittington said. “I had a couple of birdies. This is my last year in this division. The course played well. It’s a nice little course.”

Among the parents who enjoyed this tournament was Liz Woodward. Her 15-year-old son Case Woodward played in the Boys’ 14-15 division and had a round of 85.

“He’s played Tupelo, Meridian and now here. He’s had so much fun, he brought his cousin Tripp Case, 13, here,” Liz Woodward said. “He’s going to play in Jackson this week at the State Junior Amateur.”

About 45 players from as far away in Mississippi as Yazoo City and Grenada participated in this year’s tournament. Mississippi Golf Association Junior Golf representative Ian McAdams said most of the players are from the Jackson-Madison area.

“These kids play in tournaments in north and central Mississippi. About 85 percent are in high school golf starting in seventh grade,” McAdams said.

Duncan Park Golf Course Superintendent Greg Brooking said this tournament is getting bigger each year.

“We have two boys from Natchez, Will Moffet and Kurston Green. Lily Sims lives in Vidalia. Those are the three locals we’ve got playing,” Brooking said. “When we finally get to 50, we’re going to see if we can make it a 36-hole event. Ian says it’s the best one-day tournament in the state of Mississippi.”