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Casey Ham watches his ball after he takes a swing at the Beau Pré Country Club Golf Course in Natchez. Ham won his fourth club championship Sunday and was the only player to shoot under par out of nearly 50 participants during the two-day tournament. (Ben Hillyer | The Natchez Democrat)

Defending Beau Pré champion Jordan Farmer will look to retain the title and run the tournament as chairman this weekend. (File Photo)

Third-place finisher Tom Bryant makes a chip shot. (Ben Hillyer | The Natchez Democrat)

(Ben Hillyer | The Natchez Democrat)

(Ben Hillyer | The Natchez Democrat)

Casey Ham knew what it felt like to win the Beau Pré Country Club Championship, but this year he wanted redemption.

Ham had won the member-only title for three consecutive years from 2012-14. He claimed his fourth win Sunday at the club’s golf course, edging out second-place finisher and defending champion Jordan Farmer by six stokes.

“It’s good to win,” Ham said. “I had lost the last two years which I thought I had a good chance, but Jordan won them. I was playing with the ones I needed to be worried about.”

Ham was the only player to finish under par for the two-day tournament with an overall score of 141. He started the weekend shooting an even 72 on Saturday and finished Sunday’s round at 69 after a brief rain delay late in the day.

Farmer finished overall at 147, shooting even on Sunday.

Beau Pré golf pro Bobby McCrimmon said he was pleased with the club’s attendance and participation, with the tournament capping at just under 50 players.

“The members were all very excited,” he said.

Ham and Farmer were evenly matched for the first nine holes on the tournament’s final day, but Farmer’s four-putt 10th hole left him fighting back for the remainder of the round.

“I struggled on the green this whole weekend,” Farmer said. “I could not get it in the hole with the putter, and that’s usually the best stick in my bag. It took a turn for the worse on 10. I just had a mental lapse and didn’t concentrate on the tap in, and that really hurt bad.”

Ham said Farmer’s double bogey was a surprise.

“I couldn’t believe he did that. That’s not like him,” he said. “It gave me a little cushion, and then I birdied 11, and no one else in our group did.”

Ham ended Sunday with five birdies, including one on the final green. He said after finishing in the lead on Saturday, he was comfortable but still wanted to improve.

“I know I have been hitting it good, I’ve just been missing some short putts,” Ham said. “I should have been three or four under (Saturday).”

Despite missing a few close shots, Ham said he is glad to have the championship back in his name. The winner recieves a reserved parking spot at the Beau Pre Clubhouse.

“It’s just a little pride thing, but I enjoy playing with these fellas,” he said. “It’s good competition.”

The top 14 open division and four senior players from the tournament advance to the Beau Pré Ryder Cup Championship in September.

McCrimmon said he is happy to see club members playing competitively for those spots.

“The scores don’t really reflect the quality of players that are here,” he said. “The guys with some of the lower scores have played a lot of competitive golf. It’s great.”

The Beau Pré Country Club Championship winner for the senior division was Craig Bradford with a score of 150.

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