NATCHEZ — The final round of the 2012 MGA State Senior Amateur Championship at Beau Pré Country Club almost saw a stunning turn of events on the par-4 11th hole on Sunday.

Robert Willis of Grenada, who led after each of the first two rounds, appeared on the brink of losing at least two shots off his four-shot lead over Ricky Sims of Canton after a bad tee shot and a couple of errant shots that followed. Sims had a two-foot for birdie and Willis had a 40-footer just to save par.

With first place in the championship flight of the Senior Division (50-59) at stake, Willis made his long putt and lost just one shot. Unfortunately for Sims, he would not make up any more ground as Willis ended up with a round of 1-under-par 71 for a three-day total of 5-under-par 211 and the championship trophy.

“It feels real good. I’ve come close a lot of times. I’ve never made it through Sunday until now,” Willis said. “It came down to No. 11. It should’ve been a three-shot swing for Ricky. Instead, it was just a one-shot swing. I should’ve made double bogey. That was almost the whole tournament right there.”

Willis had four birdies, a bogey on No. 1 and a double-bogey on No. 7.

Sims bogeyed No. 12 and double-bogeyed No. 13 before a birdie on No. 14 allowed him to finish with a round of 1-over-par 73 and a three-way tie for second place with Greg Brooking of Natchez (73-72-73) and Robert Pannell of Greenwood (73-74-71) at 2-over-par 218.

“I was proud that we had such a venue like Beau Pré to put on this tournament. I’m so happy that we have it. It played magnificently,” Brooking said. “The greens were smooth and the fairways were manicured perfectly. I commend (Beau Pré course superintendent) Dee Barron for doing a super job.”

Brooking added that neither him nor anyone else was going to catch Willis, even though Sims came the closest.

Two other players representing Natchez finished in a tie for fifth place at 9-over-par 225 — Howard Jones and Bill Byrne.

“I played real well this weekend. The real star of the weekend was the golf course,” Jones said. “(Beau Pré golf pro) Carey Witten and Dee Barron did an amazing job.”

“It’s fun to play in the State Senior, especially in our home town. I’d like to congratulate Carey Witten and Dee Barron and his staff,” Byrne said.

In the first flight of the Senior Division, Mario Alfonso of Southaven came in first place after a final-round 75 put him at 233. Chuck Fields of Natchez finished in a tie for fifth with Dana Ellis of Pearl at 239 and Keith Rayborn was seventh at 240.

“The course is probably the best condition it has even been in in the history of Beau Pré,” Rayborn said. “This is my first MGA event and I play on playing more.”

Mike Pharr of Hernando shot a final-round 71 to win the championship flight of the Super Senior Division (60-69) with a three-day total of 1-over-par 217.

“I played very steady. Fairways and greens. I hit the ball about the same as I did the first two days. I made a few putts. Barely enough to get by,” Pharr said. “I won the State Senior 13 years ago. So in 13 years, I’ll be the Grand Masters champion. Hah!”

Cecil Watkins of Picayune won the Grand Masters Division (70+) with a three-day score of 228, four shots ahead of second-place Bill Lambert of Natchez, who shot a final-round 77 to finish at 232.