NATCHEZ &045; There are no seniors or juniors to mention, but Jordan Farmer likes this year’s Cathedral golf team.

The state runner-up from a year ago to West Union, the Green Wave finished well out in front Thursday at the Division 4-1A tournament at Duncan Park with nearly 60 strokes separating it and second-place Bogue Chitto.

Farmer, the top medalist at the tournament, likes two things in particular about the remainder of the season &045; this team’s top five are good, and the Class 1A tournament is scheduled for May 5 at Beau Pr.

&uot;We’ve got two weeks before state,&uot; Farmer said. &uot;It bothered the heck out of me (losing last year). We missed some key putts. We were in the lead after the first day of it. But we’re looking forward to it this year. We have a young team. If we can win state this year, we’ll have three good years together. We’re looking forward to it.&uot;

Everyone was feeling good following 18 holes at Duncan Park, particularly since it was another in the latest of strong outings for a team that has gotten better in recent weeks. The Green Wave’s 315 was tops with Bogue Chitto in second at 374 as the top two qualifiers for the state tournament.

Cathedral had the top three scores Thursday &045; Farmer at 72, Matthew Hall at 75 and Jake Kaiser at 78. Aaron Murray shot a 90 to finish sixth, and Mary Kate Byrne came in with a 93 in 10th.

&uot;Aaron has improved a lot the last two weeks,&uot; Cathedral head coach Ken Beesley Jr. said. &uot;He’s really starting to come on, and I’m hoping he can continue to play well. Mary Kate played better on the back nine. I’ve got to have my top three shooting what they shot today if we want to have a real good shot at (state). At state, you need to shoot a 320 or better each day.&uot;

For Farmer, he struggled a bit with some putts early after 10 of his 14 fairways and 15 of the 18 greens. In the first five holes he missed four putts under 5 feet and bogeyed on the sixth hole, but he rebounded on the back nine and eventually made an eagle on the 11th hole.

&uot;I hit a lot of pars,&uot; he said. &uot;I hit some real good shots and got lucky on a couple of them. I hit a lot of greens. I was really disappointed. I would hit the high side (on putts), and it would lip out every time. It made me really mad.&uot;

The eagle, however, turned things around for the team’s No. 1 golfer as he finished solid to earn top medallist by three strokes. It’s a new position for Farmer, a sophomore who inherited the position from Mark Carter from a season ago.

That team No. 1 spot comes with a responsibility, and on Thursday he didn’t disappoint.

&uot;Jordan played pretty good today,&uot; Beesley said. &uot;He didn’t putt real well, and it could have been a lot better. Him and Jake both eagled on 11. Jordan is playing a lot better. The last three weeks he put forth a lot of effort in practice, and you can tell by it by his scores.

&uot;He’s done a pretty good job this year. It’s a little different when you’re the one that’s supposed to do it.&uot;

Kaiser followed Farmer with a strong play in the back nine. He started with a 6-over par after seven holes but worked it down to 1-over after the 11th hole.

Bogue Chitto finished second with Drew Yawn as its top finish with an 84 in fourth place, and West Lincoln’s Dan Allen was fifth with an 87 just three strokes ahead of Murray.

The top two teams and the top five individuals advance to the state tournament.

There are two weeks before then to prepare for it, and at least having the tournament on at Beau Pr could be a big boost just as playing at Duncan on Thursday was for the Green Wave.

&uot;I’m hoping it’s going to be a big advantage,&uot; Beesley said. &uot;All my five are members out there, so they should know the course.&uot;

Said Farmer: &uot;West Union graduated two of their good ones. It ought to be real close. I really have a lot of faith in this team. We didn’t play well at the beginning of the year, but the last couple of tournaments we’ve been coming around and playing better.&uot;