NATCHEZ — Two years ago, Greg Brooking and the Mississippi Governor’s Cup team went to Arkansas and took a beating from the Natural State’s representatives.

This year, Brooking and team Mississippi returned the favor.

The Duncan Park golf course superintendent competed with Team Mississippi against Team Arkansas May 13-14 at Big Creek Golf Club in Mountain Home, Ark. Mississippi won 24 1/2 to 15 1/2 in match that was formatted like the Ryder Cup, Brooking said.

“Mississippi won last year when they competed at Old Wavereley Golf Club in Columbus, so it’s two in a row (for our state),” Brooking said.

“I wasn’t on the team last year, but I was on the team two years ago when Arkansas thrashed us pretty good. Bill Byrne played on the Cup team last year, so he’s the one that kind of pushed me to be on the team again.”

The Governor’s Cup format was broken up into three different matches, and Brooking went undefeated in all three.

“We had alternate shot matches, where you and your partner alternate shots,” Brooking said. “I’ll hit, then he hits. There’s a little jabbing involved, where I’ll say, ‘Why’d you hit it in the forest while I’m hitting it on the fairway.’

“You also had the singles matches, where you play by yourself, and the foresome match, where me and a partner both play a hole, and whoever has the lowest shot, we take it.”

Brooking was paired up with Tico Hoffman from Jackson for his partner matches, something Brooking said was a big benefit for himself.

“He won the Louisiana State Amateur in 1978, and he’s a really fun person to play with,” Brooking said. “It’s always good to play with someone I like. I compare it to playing with Pete Powell here at home. Both of them really help me with my game.”

Brooking also said he enjoyed playing at Big Creek, one of Arkansas’ premier courses.

“It’s a gorgeous course, with bentgrass greens,” Brooking said.

“I really drove the ball well, and I putted well. You never do well and say, ‘I putted terribly.’ The bentgrass greens were different than the Bermuda (grass) greens here (at Duncan Park), but after I got used to them, I played really well.”

And Brooking said it’s nice to be on the winning side this time.

“There were six to eight on our team that went undefeated out of 20,” Brooking said. “If everyone on the team goes undefeated, you win the Cup. I hope to make it again next year and be on the winning team again.”