2 Miss-Lou golfers compete to compete in Norman Puckett Junior Championships

Published 7:15 pm Thursday, June 11, 2020

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NATCHEZ — Two Miss-Lou area youth golfers will play in the 10th annual Norman Puckett Junior Championships on Saturday and Sunday at Duncan Park Golf Course.

Kayla Starr, a Natchez youth girl golfer, has played in the Norman Puckett Junior Championships for three years.

Meanwhile, Quade Rushing, a boy golfer from Monterey, Louisiana, said he has never played in the Norman Puckett Junior Championships.

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“I’m excited about playing in the championships this weekend,” Rushing said. “I think it is one of the tournaments that prepare you mentally for other competitions, like if I decide to play professionally or collegiately.”

Last year at the Norman Puckett Junior Golf Championships, Starr finished second with an overall score of 12 over par. Starr said it’s going to be fun competition against other girl golfers.

“It feels good to see a lot of girls come to Natchez to play golf,” Starr said. “It is important for me to play in this championship tournament because it helps me represent the town I live in.”

Greg Brooking, Duncan Park Golf Course superintendent, said there would be approximately 50 youth golf players in the championship this weekend.

Brooking said no youth golf players from Natchez have won the Norman Puckett Junior Championships in the 10-year history of the championships. Brooking added this championship has importance for youth golf players.

“It allows the kids to compete and it allows the college golf coaches to see how they play and evaluate them for college golf scholarships,” Brooking said.

The winner of each division will receive a driver golf club of their choice from the Pro Shop at Duncan Park Golf Course.

Competition starts at 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Brooking said the course would be open after 2 p.m. on each day to the public.