NATCHEZ — The Cathedral School golf team went into this week’s MHSAA Class 1A State High School Golf Tournament at Beau Pré as the defending champions.

But, the Green Wave could not overcome a tough day one Monday and a great performance by St. Aloysius to take their second straight title.

St. Aloysius jumped out to a 23-stroke lead after day one and finished the two-day tournament with a score of 638, beating second-place Cathedral by 36 strokes.

“It was just one of those things,” Cathedral coach Kurt Russ said. “In golf terms, they say, ‘You can’t win a tournament on the first day but you can lose it.’”

We had a couple of guys that didn’t have as good a day as usual (on day one), and you can’t give a team as good as St. Aloysius a 23 stroke lead.”

The highlight of Cathedral’s second-place finish came from senior Steve Scarborough.

Scarborough finished second overall in the tournament by shooting a 153.

He went into the 36th hole tied for the lead with St. Aloysius’s Nick Mekus. Scarborough managed to par 18, but Mekus birdied to edge Scarborough by one stroke.

“I’ve never medaled before, so it’s nice that I got second,” Scarborough said. “It’s nice that I got something (in my last tournament), but I was hoping to get first.”

Russ said he was very proud of Scarborough, especially with the tournament being Scarborough’s final high school tournament.

Russ said Scarborough was consistent all year, and he only shot one round over 80.

Avery Middleton finished the tournament with a 164, Cathedral’s second lowest score. Middleton shot an 86 on day one but answered with a 78 on day two, the third lowest of the day.

“Avery battled back (Tuesday) after a tough first round,” Russ said.

Trevor Farmer was right behind Middleton with a 169. Middleton finished sixth overall, and Farmer finished seventh overall in the tournament.

The Green Wave’s Kayd Rush finished 13th overall out of 25 golfers, with a 188. Semmes White finished 20th overall with a 223.

Russ said he was proud of his teams efforts this season, and the improvement they have made.

“We have some young guys and two veterans,” Russ said. “Three (tournaments) in a row they shot their best ever (scores). I am real proud of that.”

Middleton and Scarborough will each leave Cathedral with a state championship, a state runner-up title and an individual state-runner up title (Middleton finished second in last year’s state tournament).