NATCHEZ — The top amateur golfers from Mississippi will take on the top amateur golfers from Arkansas in the 2018 Governor’s Cup this weekend at Beau Pré Country Club.

And this year’s event will indeed have a local flavor to it. Not only is Beau Pré hosting this prestigious tournament for the first time in 10 years, but five players from Natchez are on defending champion Team Mississippi.

Team co-captain Bill Byrne, Greg Brooking, Casey Ham, Tom Bryant and Pete Powell will be representing the river city. Brooking said that this is the most players ever from any one city from either state that will be participating in the Governor’s Cup.

“That’s a lot of quality golfers from one place,” Brooking said. “Pete was on the bubble, but he got in. Plus, he knows the course. I’ve played in it about eight times since 2008. Tom and Casey, they’re outstanding golfers. Pete’s an 11-time city champion. This will be his second time. This will be Bill’s fourth time.”

There will be 20 golfers on each team. Bryant and Ham will be in the regular division, Brooking and Byrne will be in the senior division, and Powell be in the super senior division.

Team Mississippi defeated Team Arkansas l8 points to 12 points when the event was held at Granada Golf Club in Hot Springs Village, Ark. Brooking was only local player for the winning team last year.

“I feel like we’ve got a real good chance (to repeat) this year,” Brooking said. “I’m glad we’ve got Bill as a team captain.”

Practice rounds will take place today. The tournament, now in its 13th year, is usually held on a Saturday and Sunday. But with this Sunday being Mother’s Day, the 2018 edition of the Governor’s Cup will take place on Friday and Saturday.

The action on Friday begins with the four-ball matches starting at 7:30 a.m. The foursome (alternate shot) matches begin at 1 p.m. that day. The singles matches on Saturday will get under way at 7:30 a.m.

“I’ll be playing with Bill in the four-ball matches and I’ll be playing with state amateur champion Kyle Smith in the alternate shot matches,” Brooking said.

Powell will team with Ricky Sims on both the four-ball and foursome matches. Bryant and Ham will be teammates in the four-ball matches, but they will have different teammates in the foursome matches. Bryant will be paired with David Sellers while Ham will be paired with Edward Wall. Byrne will be paired with Ken Peacock in the foursome matches.