NATCHEZ &045; With nearly 100 participants, this year’s St. Jude’s Charity Golf Tournament was the largest in the event’s nine-year history.

That means more money will be donated to St. Jude’s, which offers free care to children with cancer, than ever before.

&uot;This year we’re looking to exceed $8,000 in proceeds for St. Jude’s,&uot; Moe LeBlanc, tournament director, said. &uot;It was a tremendous success to see so many generous sponsors that really gave.&uot;

It also means tournament champions Pete Buttross, Woody Allen and Dan Bland had more competition than ever. The three-man, 27-hole scramble format suited this group well, as evidenced by their score of 88, one stroke better than the Great River Oldsmobile team of Kenny Jackson, Justin Jackson and Bill Salters. They were the only teams to shoot in the 80s.

&uot;Bill Salters and Kenny Jackson, I play a lot with those two guys,&uot; Allen said. &uot;It was fun to beat them, though of course we didn’t know while we were playing they were that close.&uot;

Buttross, Allen and Bland scored par or better on every hole, slicing through the course at Duncan Park.

Buttross might have been the team’s secret weapon.

&uot;I think of the putts we made, Pete probably made 80 percent of them,&uot; Allen said.

Buttross was more modest about his contribution.

&uot;I did my share. I’m 85 years young and I love golf,&uot; Buttross said.

Buttross was pleased with the win, but also pleased to participate because the event benefits St. Jude’s.

&uot;I love St. Jude’s and the work they do,&uot; Buttross said. &uot;When we go to funerals, I don’t usually send flowers. Instead, me and my wife make a memorial donation to St. Jude’s. A lot of people do things like that and I think it’s great.

LeBlanc said he wanted to thank all the people that helped put the tournament on and give money to St. Jude’s.

&uot;This isn’t a one-person show,&uot; LeBlanc said. &uot;The Novaks, the Blantons, Malcolm Anders whose son has gone to St. Jude’s, there are just so many people who gave their time and effort. It’s a tremendous feeling to see what can happen when the community comes together.&uot;