NATCHEZ — Twenty-two local golfers competed Saturday afternoon at Beau Pré Country Club in the only qualifier of the year for the final six spots available for this year’s Beau Pré Cup Matches.

Chuck Fields came in first place with a round of 3-over-par 75 to win medalist honors as the qualifier with the lowest score.

“The course is in great shape. My round, I started off really strong but didn’t hit it real well coming in,” Fields said. “That’s kind of the way you look at it sometimes. I didn’t hit it as well as I could have.”

Fields added the recent heavy rain events that came through the area made the course even more difficult than it normally would be.

“We’ve had so much rain that the ball’s not rolling,” Fields said. “Sometimes you would have mud on the ball. Of course, the course plays tougher when it’s wet.”

Fields added that he was relieved he was among the top six that qualified for the Beau Pré Cup.

“The Beau Pré Cup is our big event at the club, and it’s an honor to play in it. When you don’t win the Beau Pré (Club) Championship, it puts a lot of pressure on you to qualify,” Fields said. “A lot of players were nervous.”

Richard Edgin finished one shot behind Fields in second place at 4-over-par 76. Chad Huber also qualified after coming in third place with a round of 5-over-par 77.

Three players finished in a tie for fourth place at 6-over-par 78 to round out the list of qualifiers — Hayden Kaiser III, Kevin Smith Jr. and Tee Cotten.

Three players who participated in the Beau Pré Cup Qualifier were named alternates — Avery Middleton (79), Kurt Russ (82) and Josh Loy (82).

The 2014 Beau Pré Cup Matches will take place Sept. 20 and 21 at Beau Pré Country Club.