The first round of the 2001 Natchez Ladies and Senior Ladies Championship was completed Sunday morning after bad weather stopped play Saturday afternoon at the Duncan Park Golf Course.

Mary Edwards of Jonesville, La., who was 1996 ladies city champion, was tied for third with a front-nine 41, wound up in the lead after the first round was over with a 79, five shots ahead of former champion Judy Powell.

&uot;I hit the ball well on the front nine yesterday (Saturday). I just didn’t score well,&uot; Edwards said. &uot;I had a good group to play with. They’re capable of shooting under par today (Sunday),&uot; said Edwards.

Unfortunately, none of the 21 remaining golfers will know what they could have scored on Sunday afternoon as bad weather and unplayable conditions led to the final round of the Natchez Ladies and Senior Ladies Championship, the Natchez Senior Men, Super Senior Men and Legends Men Championship being canceled.

Duncan Park pro Marvin Gray almost decided to reschedule the entire final round for this Saturday starting at 1 p.m. Instead, he decided on another option – go by each of the players’ first-round scores.

&uot;That’s why I called upon the USGA Rulebook,&uot; Gray said. &uot;I would prefer to finish the final round, but it was unfeasible. The final round was washed out. &uot;The second round was canceled because of unplayable conditions and the winners were declared because of bad weather.&uot;

The weather ended Sally Durkin’s quest to win three straight and four of the last five ladies city championships.

The rain started just minutes after the ladies teed off on the first hole at 12:35 p.m. to start the final round. Lightning appeared near the course about two hours later, causing suspension of play.

Sonia Cothern won the ladies senior city title with a 91.

Conner Robson, who was the first-round leader and eventual men’s senior division with an 80, was happy about the final round’s cancellation. &uot;I didn’t play good at all today. I benefitted from it being a washout. It was too wet to play golf today,&uot; Robson said.

Bob M. Dearing won the Super Senior Men’s title with an 85 and Peter Buttross won his second straight Legends Men’s title with a 93.