Chad Henley and Matt Bell each shot a 75 to give Warren Central’s golf team the championship at the Natchez High/Cathedral High Coca-Cola Invitational Thursday at the Duncan Park golf course.

Bell birdied the first playoff hole to finish as the 2nd place medalist. Henley finished fourth.

Blake Strong shot a 76 and John Robert Ward had an 81 for Warren Central, which finished 10 strokes ahead of McComb High’s team score of 317.

&uot;This feels real good, not only for me but for the kids as well,&uot; said Warren Central golf coach Kelvin Smith.

McComb High’s golf team was led by Andrew DeCoux, who also shot a 75, good enough for 3rd place after parring the first playoff hole.

Cathedral High, last year’s champion, finished in third place, led by first place medalist Mark Carter, who had the lowest individual score with a 74.

&uot;Carter is on top of his game. He may have struggled a little bit on the back nine, but he’s playing good,&uot; said Cathedral golf coach Terry Moffett.

&uot;I felt pretty good because it was pretty wet out there,&uot; Carter said. &uot;I took my time out there and played smart.&uot;

Carter said his best hole was the first hole, which he birdied.

&uot;It helped me get the momentum going.&uot;

Moffett also praised Warren Central and McComb for their good play.

&uot;Out of Warren Central’s 10 players, nine are seniors. McComb is also senior-oriented. If they keep playing like this, they will contend for their district titles (McComb in 4A and W.C. in 5A.&uot;

Despite a triple bogey and two double bogeys, Cathedral’s Christopher Martin finished with an 81.

&uot;I had a three-hole stretch of golf on 10, 11 and 12 in which I birdied all three holes,&uot; Martin said.

Josh Ford and Wyler Murray each finished with a 91.

Brookhaven High finished fourth with a 384, Vicksburg High fifth with a 400 and Natchez High sixth with a 419.

Natchez High golfer Michael Pace withdrew from the tournament because of an illness.

&uot;We have one 7th grader (Akeem West and no seniors,&uot; said Natchez High golf coach Tom Matthews. &uot;Brandon Miller’s our only returning player and he’s at state with the chorus.&uot;

Natchez High golfer Betsi Powell broke 100 for the first time with a score of 96, the team’s lowest score.

&uot;It felt relieving,&uot; said Powell, the daughter of Beau Pre Country Club golf pro Mark Powell. &uot;I felt I should’ve done it a long time ago, but I didn’t. I did well on the front nine with a bogey and a couple of pars. But I didn’t do too well on the back nine.&uot;

West had a 101, Joe Bell a 105 and Justin McElroy a 117 for Natchez High.

Duncan Park pro Marvin Gray complimented the players for their competitiveness and sportsmanship.

&uot;This is what it’s all about. These young kids playing against each other and having fun,&uot; Gray said. &uot;They’ll be playing each other in high school, possibly in college and maybe further on down the road.&uot;