NATCHEZ — The first round of the 2008 Beau Pré Member-Guest Invitational didn’t get off to a good start for the team of Jordan Farmer and Casey Ham Saturday morning.

After the first eight holes, Farmer and Ham were at just 1-under-par and didn’t play like a contending team in the championship flight. That was until a birdie on No. 9 started a key stretch for them as they wound up in the lead with a score of 9-under-par 63.

“We didn’t do anything (on the front nine). (Ham) got it close on 9 and then we birdied 10 and 11 and eagled 12,” Farmer said. “We went on a streak, kind of slowed down, and got it going again.”

Their four-hole rally got them to 6-under-par for the round. After pars on 13, 14 and 15, they started another rally with a chip-in for birdie on the par-3 16th hole.

They then birdied 17 and 18 to close out their round.

“We left a couple (of birdie opportunities) out there and got lucky a couple of times,” Ham said.

The longest putt that Farmer and Ham made all day was from 15 feet out. They finished with seven birdies and the one eagle.

Trampus Butler and Orville Lamartinier are in second place after shooting a 7-under-par 65. Butler is trying to win his third Member-Guest Invitational with his third different partner — Kurt Russ in 2005 and Randy Moore in 2007.

Butler and Lamartinier had a solid day on the four par-5 holes Saturday. They birdied Nos. 5, 10 and 18 and eagled No. 8 to go with birdies on No. 4 and No. 12.

“It was fun. Consistent. Made a lot of six-footers,” Butler said. “We played together as a team. Course is in great shape. We didn’t have very high expectations coming in.”

Three teams are tied for third place in the championship flight with rounds of 4-under-par 68 — Larry Davis and Paul Sparks; Kurt Russ and Chad Huber; and the 2006 championship team of Tom Matthews and Jason Rooks.

The team of Davis and Sparks had five birdies and a costly three-putt bogey on No. 14.

“We played good. Never got in any trouble. That’s the best I’ve ever drove the ball,” Davis said. “When I needed help, Paul helped me out. I made some clutch putts. Could’ve been better, but it was better than I thought.”

Three teams lead the first flight with scores of 1-under-par 71 — Wade Heatherly and Wesley Rogers; Bobby Meason and Al Guido; and Mark Carter and George Walker.

The good news was that the first round was completed with no problems. However, today’s final round will be a little tougher with rain and windy conditions possible on the back side of what is a weakening Tropical Storm Fay.

Beau Pré golf pro Dwayne David decided that the final round will take place today with tee times starting at 8:30 a.m.