NATCHEZ &045; Jordan Farmer bogeyed three holes during the middle of the back nine Thursday and still managed to take a one-shot lead over Akeem West in the Natchez Junior Golf Championships at Duncan Park.

But only because West himself struggled at the end of the first round, which included a two-shot swing on No. 17 in which Farmer birdied the hole and West ended up with a bogey.

Farmer shot a 1-over-par 72 to lead the boys 15-18 age group, which included four birdies and five bogeys, while West shot a 2-over 73, which included an eagle and a double bogey.

&uot;Every time I made a birdie, I made a bogey the next hole it seemed like,&uot; Farmer said. &uot;My short game was horrible. I duffed a few chip shots.&uot;

Farmer’s problems with his short game cost him a possible birdie on No. 12. He had to settle for par on that hole, then bogeyed 13, 15 and 16. His putter came through, however, as he made a long birdie putt on the par-5 14th.

His short game did not abandon him altogether. After his tee shot on No. 11 ended up going left of the fairway and under a tree, Farmer hit a magnificent flop shot over a tree and to within five feet of the hole and made the birdie putt.

&uot;I made some putts, but I missed some easy putts on the front nine,&uot; Farmer said. &uot;I could’ve shot in the 60s. I just got a new swing coach a week ago. I was worried I was going to hit it all over the place.&uot;

West started his round with a rare double-bogey 6 on the par-4 1st hole, yet had the lead for much of the round until it slipped away.

&uot;I four-putted the first green,&uot; West said. &uot;I knocked it to about 35 feet on 2 on No. 5 and I made the eagle putt. I made a 15-footer on 6 for birdie.&uot;

West had a two-shot lead over Farmer with two holes to pay.

&uot;I started thinking too much,&uot; West said. &uot;I pull hooked a sand wedge on 17. On 18, I had a tough shot from under the tree from 108 yards. A could’ve been round. I could’ve shot 3- or 4-under.&uot;

Matthew Hall and Brandon Wells are both just three shots out of the lead with round of 4-over 75.

&uot;I played pretty good on the front nine. I had a birdie on 3, but came back with a bogey on 4,&uot; Hall said. &uot;On the back nine, I couldn’t hit my drive. I’ve got to get on the range. I was leaving a few putts short.&uot;

Hall left a birdie putt that would’ve had went in the center of the hole a mere two inches short of the hole.

&uot;I’m putting consistent,&uot; Hall said. &uot;I’m putting better than I was.&uot;

Mary Kate Byrne shot an 81 to lead the girls 15-18 age division. However, she is the only one in this group again this year.

&uot;I started out with a par and I had four really tough holes,&uot; Byrne said. &uot;I had to think positive after that. I parred out the rest of the (front) nine.&uot;

Byrne bogeyed the two par-3 holes on the back nine, Nos. 13 and 15, and was on her way finally to shooting below 80. That was until the par-4 18th hole.

&uot;When I got to 18, I was shooting 79,&uot; Byrne said. &uot;My tee shot barely hit some pine straw on top of the tree.&uot;

After her second shot ended up under another tree, Byrne needed two chip shots to get to the green. She two-putted for double bogey.

&uot;Except for three holes, I was pretty pleased,&uot; Byrne said.

In the girls 12-14 age group, Carolyn Mullins had her first-ever birdie, which took place on the par-3 9th hole, en route to a front-nine score of 49 and a nine-shot lead over Cirsara Ernst.

In the boys 12-14 age group, Adam Kaiser shot a 51 on the front nine to take a slim one-shot lead over Ben Gaudet.

In the boys 11-and-under age group (seven holes each day), Trevor Farmer shot a 41 on the front side for a one-shot lead.