NATCHEZ — There were plenty of good local golfers at Duncan Park on Saturday putting up some low scores.

But the stars of the day were youngsters who weren’t nearly as adept at the game.

The Special Olympics Area 7 Golf Tournament gave eight Special Olympics athletes a chance to tee it up on the golf course as well as raise a lot of money for the area Special Olympics chapter.

“It was a very good tournament, Tournament Chairman Ricky Warren said. “We had more teams than we ever had and the generocity of everyone was amazing.”

Warren said the tournament raised about $18,000 for the local Special Olympics team, which will go to help pay for the events the team competes in throughout the year.

“It was more than we expected to raise, especially with the economy the way it is,” Warren said. “The generocity of the Natchez community is like nowhere else in the world. It’s fantastic that everyone was willing to help and make donations.”

The tournament was won by the Snap Fitness team of Charles Mardis, Kurt Russ, Christian Krieger and Dawn Watson. Special Olympic athlete Carl Washington also played with the group.

Washington was one of eight Special Olympic athletes to play with a group, and Warren said that groups that had those athletes had a great time.

“The teams that had Special Olympic athletes with them said it was the most fun they’ve had playing golf,” Warren said. “They helped them practice some shots, and some said they even had them sink their putts for them.”

One of those Special Olympic athletes that participated was Natchez High School senior Randy Bielefeld.

It is Bielefeld’s third consecutive year to play in the tournament, and he said he was pleased with the way he played.

“I felt comfortable and relaxed out there,” Bielefeld said. “This is my third year doing it, and I’ve really enjoyed playing in it. I just want to thank the Special Olympics organizers for allowing us to play. It was an honor and a privilege to play in the tournament.”