NATCHEZ — Mark LaFrancis teamed with Colby Bass, Donnie McFarland and Ryan Ratcliff — three members of Copiah-Lincoln Community College’s state championship golf team — for the low score Thursday afternoon at the ninth annual Co-Lin Natchez Golf Classic.

Bass, LaFrancis, McFarland and Ratcliff torched Beau Pré Country Club’s golf course and finished with a round of 19-under-par 53. Their round included three eagles, one of which occurred on the par-4 17th hole, and 13 birdies.

“We didn’t have to putt a lot. We hit a lot of fairways and hit a lot of greens. Most of our putts were from two or three feet,” said Ratcliff, who chipped in for eagle from 60 yards away on No. 17 for the team’s second eagle of the day.

They started their round with an eagle on the par-5 10th hole and had a back-nine score of 11-under-par 25. They had six birdies and an eagle on the par-5 eighth hole on the front nine.

“We parred two of the (four) par-3s. That’s what hurt us,” Ratcliff said.

The individual team of Sonny Hill, Greg Naquin, Doug Brown and Larry Davis had the low net score of 58. They shot a round of 57 and had a team handicap of plus-one.

First place among the corporate teams went to the Peoples Bank team of Eric Smith, Raymond Steele, Bart Jones and Larry Hill, who had round of 56.

This year, there were 80 participants in the four-man scramble. Dr. Ronnie Nettles, president of Copiah-Lincoln Community College, said he was pleased with this year’s turnout.

“Great day. Great tournament. We were a little concerned because of the economy. It’s good for our students. It’s good for our faculty. Typically we raise around $10,000. I hope we raise that this year. We try to get some nice door prizes and a meal before the tournament.”

Teresa A. Busby, vice president of the Natchez campus, said that all the money raised from this event is used for student scholarships and faculty development.

“All the money is used for the Natchez campus,” Busby added. “The weather was perfect and the community really came out and showed their support.”