By Matt Sigler

The Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ — They may not be PGA golfers, but the men who competed in the Cathedral Fall Festival golf tournament at Beau Pre country club weren’t looking for a trophy.

They were shooting to raise money for a school they love.

“Cathedral Fall Festival is Cathedral’s big fall fundraiser they do every year,” said tournament director Matthew Hall. “We have a tennis tournament and a golf tournament.”

Seventeen teams competed in the event and four men made up each team. The format of the tournament was a four man scramble, with each golfer hitting from the tee and the team taking the best ball from there.

“It is pretty competitive,” Hall said. “Well over half the field wanted to win this thing.”

But only one team could and that was the team of Dr. Jeff Anderson, Kevin Smith Jr., Wesley Rogers and Brandon Garrity, who shot a 54.

“We had a good team effort,” Anderson said. “We got off on a rough start and had to use a couple mulligans, but kept knocking it in the hole and everybody contributed. We got Brandon going on the backside and started knocking down birdie putts. These guys played really well.”

With the win, the team earned $600 in clubhouse credit. The second place team of Tommy Geoghegan, Keith Rayborn, Mark Carter and Kevin Smith Sr. took home $300 in clubhouse credit.

Overall, Hall said the event went well and was pleased with how much support they received.

“We got over 50 hole sponsors at $100 a piece, so that is great,” he said. “We had a good showing and it was very successful. I think it went really well.”

Rounding out the top five are the team of David Cothren, Jody Helbling, Keith Green and Mel Beltzhoover taking third, Chris Kelley, Robin Punches, Chad Huber and Dan Bland taking fourth and Jordan Farmer, Tom Bryant, Stuart Heflin and Russ Wood taking fifth.