The 2000 Mississippi Cup Matches, which pits the top amateurs in Mississippi against the top Mississippi PGA golf professionals, will be held today through Sunday at Beau Pr\u00E9 Country Club.

This is the first time the tournament has been played in Natchez.

Jeff Morton, executive director of the Mississippi Golf Association, said the pros will have an advantage over the amateurs because they’ve probably played at Beau Pr\u00E9 more often.

&uot;The pros have played a couple of pro-ams and the Mississippi PGA Chapter Championship last year,&uot; he said. &uot;That gives them the advantage.&uot;

The top amateurs in the state qualified for the tournament through tournaments sanctioned by the Mississippi Golf Association.

The Mississippi PGA Golf Professionals qualified by their play in the top PGA club events and in the Michelob Pro-Am Series tournaments last year.

Mark Powell, Beau Pr\u00E9’s PGA golf professional, will be playing in the tournament for the fourth time. He could not be reached for comment.

Today’s tee times will start at 11 a.m. and run through 12:10 p.m. The format will be Match Play Alternate Shot. Each match is worth one point and each side will receive a half point if the match is all square.

Saturday’s tee times start at 8:30 a.m. and run through 9:40 a.m. The format will be Match Play Four-Ball.

Sunday’s tee times start at 8:30 a.m. and run through 9:40 a.m. The format will be Match Play Singles Matches.

The amateurs have won this tournament the last four years, a streak Morton said the pros are ready to end.

&uot;The want to end the streak bad. Really bad,&uot; he said. &uot;I think they’ve got an exceptionally strong team this year.&uot;

&uot;Throughout the course of the year, there are jabs thrown back and forth between the pros and the amateurs, but it’s all in good fun,&uot; he said. &uot;But when they tee off, it’s all business.

&uot;But the pros want to get back on the winning track. They’ve had the lead going into the final round the last two years, but the amateurs were able to come back and win.&uot;