NATCHEZ — Willie Woods may not have played in Sunday’s golf tournament at Beau Pré Country Club, but he said he’s hoping people will still be playing golf many years down the road.

For that reason, the Elks Lodge Board of Trustees member was on hand this weekend to help oversee the 2012 Wharlest Jackson Elks Lodge two-man scramble.

The scramble helps raise money for youth golf by providing scholarship money to golfers who played the game in high school, Woods said.

“The tournament helps promote golf for young people,” Woods said. “It’s really to encourage young people to get more involved at an early age. Secondly, it helps them with their education.”

Sunday wrapped up the two-day scramble, with Wesley Rogers and Kevin Smith winning the first flight, shooting 61 on day two to finish at 119. The group defeated defending Wharlest Jackson champions Jeff Anderson and Casey Ham, who shot 64 Sunday to finish at 121. Nick Guidry and Daryl Leblanc tied with Ham and Anderson.

In the second flight, Charlie Fife and Pete Powell finished at 126 to top Jack Benson and Bub Mullins’ group, which finished at 128. In Flight 3, Bill Dale and Ben Huval tied with Kurt Russ and Adrian Sandel at 132, but Dale and Huval won out in a scorecard playoff.

“Today was just a day of missed opportunities with the putter,” Russ said. “We could have shot 10 at best, but we shot 7-under. We just left some out there.”

In the fourth flight, Craig Bradford and David Heard shot 66 on day two to finish at 138. Malcolm Hall and Eddie Havard finished second in Flight 4 at 142.

As head coach of Cathedral High School’s boys and girls golf teams, Russ said he’s glad to contribute to anything that can help promote golf to local children.

“The problem we have is that there aren’t enough youth playing golf,” Russ said. “I had six boys and four girls this past spring, and last year I had 20 kids. Between this course and Duncan Park, I wish we had more youth opportunities.”

Woods said the earlier youth get started with golf, the better.

“Some of them start at a very young age,” Woods said. “I don’t know if there’s a such thing as starting too young.”