NATCHEZ — Even though Beau Pré Country Club’s golf course was hit day after day with rounds of heavy rain and strong thunderstorms that began a week ago, the first round of the second annual Tom Matthew Memorial 2-Man Scramble still took place Saturday afternoon.

And thankfully, the inclement weather stayed away for the duration of play. However, the 32 two-man teams did have to deal with near 90-degree heat and humidity that is more common for the Mississippi Gulf Coast and New Orleans than it is here.

But despite the course being so wet, scores were probably lower than expected. The team of Kevin Smith Sr. and Woody Allen shot 11-under-par 61 to take the lead in the championship flight. However, the duo had plenty of competition that will be ready for a Sunday charge.

The team of Joel Dupre and Jason Rooks is just one shot back at 10-under-par 62. Two teams are just two shots back at 9-under-par 63 — Paul Guido and Pete Powell as well as Bobby Meason and Eddie Burkes. Four other teams are only three shots out of the lead.

One team that was expected to contend in the championship flight was that of Jeff Anderson and Casey Ham. However, that duo missed out on being in the top flight despite being one of six teams that finished the day with a round of 64. The Anderson/Ham pairing is tied for the lead in the first flight with the team of Avery Middleton and Kayd Rush.

The remaining six teams in that flight are a mere one shot back at 7-under-par 65. Among those teams are Lee Jones and Cole Bradford, Bill Byrne and Gary Farmer, and Tee Cotten and Doug Johnson.

Three teams sit atop the lead in the second flight at 5-under-par 67 — Craig Bradford and Bill Lambert, Ricky Veron and Kenny Savage, and David Cothren and Mel Beltzhoover.

Two teams share the lead in the third flight at 2-under-par 70 — Chris Maxwell and Wade Heatherly as well as Michael Flowers and Jonathan Landache.

Today’s final round will have a 9 a.m. shotgun start.