By Patrick Murphy

The Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ – For eight years, Greg Brooking has hosted the Norman Puckett Junior Golf Championship at Duncan Park Golf Course. This year is the same.

At the championship, there will be 35 participants from all around the country, including two from Natchez.

“This is going to be magnificent tournament, because the quality of the kids are equal to probably the quality of the adult players,” Brooking said. “These kids could probably win the City Championship. These are good real players.”

Natchez golfers Kayla Starr and Jacob Otwell will be in it. Starr was second overall in the Mississippi High School Athletic Association.

Along with Starr and Otwell, Will Burnham, a 15-year-old from Jackson, is returning to play in it. Burnham won the championship last year.

“It was awesome. I didn’t even know because I was playing with the guys I was close to,” Burnham said. “I just want to repeat what I did last year.”

Another junior golfer to watch is Sims Dixon of Jackson. Dixon had not played in this tournament, since he played in 2012.

“It’s just a good championship,” Dixon said. “All the people are helpful, they’re always giving out stuff to people.”

With donations from private individuals, this championship keeps happening. Due to lack of funding in 2017, the championship ceased to continue.

“They have donated to make this possible,” Brooking said. “It’s just a great tournament. We feed the parents and kids every day. Golf hasn’t been growing in the past few years. That’s because the children don’t want to play. If we continue to have a juniors tournament, then we will have children playing golf. That’s the goal.”

The winner of this championship receives a framed flag and a gift certificate for a driver or merchandise of their choice from the pro shop.

Brooking said this championship is not to make money, but to bring awareness to the sport in Natchez.

“They (kids) become aware of it and it excites juniors to play golf. That’s my real goal,” Brooking said. “I’m trying to get more kids in Natchez playing golf. Instead of having two kids from Natchez, I want to have 20 kids to play in this championship.”