After leading the first round of the National Junior College Athletic Association Golf Championship, the Copiah-Lincoln golf team – which included two Natchez players in John Carlton and Wesley Rogers – faded and finished near the middle of the 12-team field, coach Chuck Halloway said.

The Wolves – and other golf teams – normally play tournaments with five players, dropping the highest score from each round and counting the four lowest scores. Co-Lin didn’t have that luxury but still finished seventh in the tournament.

&uot;I’m very happy,&uot; he said. &uot;We kind of got tired the last day, but overall it’s a good accomplishment – playing the way we did with only four players.&uot;

When the Wolves won their regional tournament in Hattiesburg, the match didn’t include enough teams to automatically secure the Wolves’ place in the nationals.

Because four of their players qualified individually, the NJCAA allowed Co-Lin to play as a team – with only four players.

&uot;We shot a 309 in the first round and were leading,&uot; Halloway said. &uot;We shot 314 the next two rounds and fell to fifth, but we fell apart on the last nine holes of the tournament. We shot a 328 and dropped to seventh.&uot;

Even though the Wolves faded at the end, Halloway couldn’t be any more proud of his team.

&uot;I’m so proud of these guys,&uot; he said. &uot;It’s a great accomplishment that we were there and we finished in the middle of the pack. Those guys had a lot of added pressure knowing they weren’t going to be able to drop a score.

&uot;They just ran out of gas,&uot; he continued. &uot;When you walk 18 holes six days in a row, that will take a lot out of you.&uot;