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NATCHEZ — The Joe Fortunato-Allen Brown Golf Classic that was postponed from May 2 until later this summer is not the only golf tournament scheduled to take place at the Duncan Park Golf Course that has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Greg Brooking, Duncan Park golf course superintendent, said that the Norman Puckett Junior Golf Academy may also be postponed until later in the summer. He said he is waiting to hear when the course will be able to re-open for business — and tournaments.

“It’s about the safety of the children,” Brooking said. “We’ll follow the national CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines. We’ll make our decision based on the experts — the CDC and the COVID-19 panel here in Natchez. When we’re allowed to open the course, then we’ll decide when to have the junior golf academy. Hopefully we can have it in June.”

Freddie Sandel, a member of the Miss-Lou Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame as well as event organizer for the Joe Fortunato-Allen Brown Golf Classic, recently said that this tournament could now take place sometime in August.

He added that he hopes there will be spectators to watch the event. But that is yet to be determined.

Brooking also said that the Natchez-Adams Chamber of Commerce Scramble that was to take place on Friday, April 3, has been postponed until sometime in October.

“We’re not going to open the course again until we’re told to and not a second earlier,” Brooking said.

Two tournaments that are still scheduled to take place on time are the Bill McKenney Memorial City Golf Championship on Aug. 1 and 2 as well as the Senior Men’s and Ladies City Golf Championships in October.

Brooking added that he is concerned about a possible second wave of the coronavirus that could take place this winter.

“Safety first,” Brooking said.