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NATCHEZ – Women’s professional golf is in Natchez this week as the Taco Bell Natchez Classic gets under way at Beau Pre Country Club.

The tournament is part of the ANNIKA Women’s All Pro Tour and the Callaway Race to Stage II. Beau Pre Country Club is welcoming the ANNIKA WAPT for the fifth time.  The field includes more than 70 LPGA and Epson Tour hopefuls as they look to take home the third championship of the 2024 season.

The 2023 champion Emily Mahar-Gray returns to defend her title in a field of 77 players from 19 countries, including: United States (54), New Zealand (1), India (1), Mexico (1), Philippines (1), China (4), Canada (6), Austria (1), Finland (1), Myanmar (1), Australia (1), United Kingdom (1), Sweden (2), Thailand (1) and Singapore (1). The players are competing for more than $55,000 in prize money, including a $10,000 prize to the tournament winner.

Monday and Tuesday’s calendar included a shoot-out and a pro-am, and tournament play began at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, continuing through Saturday. The field will be cut after 36 holes to the top 40 percent of starting field and ties.

Amateurs are included in the cut number. The field will be repaired before the final two rounds based on score and players will go off in reverse horseshoe with leaders teeing off last.  A trophy presentation by the clubhouse will follow the final round of play. Attendance is free to the public, with play beginning at 8:30 a.m. each day.

The winner and runner-up earn exemptions into the Epson Tour’s Copper Rock Championship, May 16-18.