[11/7/03]An undermanned Vicksburg Country Club team will try to keep possession of the Warren County Cup when it takes on the best from Clear Creek in a two-day tournament starting on Saturday at 8 a.m. in Bovina.

Golfers will tee off at with eight 4-ball matches.

At 12:20, a round of alternate shot for all 32 golfers will lead into Sunday’s match play.

Vicksburg Country Club needs to score 16 points to retain the cup, while Clear Creek needs at least 16 1/2 points to win the cup for the fourth straight time when the tournament has been played in Bovina.

The country club will be without three of its best golfers Barry Hassell and Paul Loyacono Jr. recently moved to Jackson and Mississippi Senior champion Joe Lindigren had a prior commitment.

“They have a very good team,” said VCC pro Kent Smith. “With us playing out there and we being shorthanded, it’s going to be a longshot, but it’s not impossible.”

The tournament takes the top 16 players from the VCC and matches them with the top 16 of Clear Creek for the annual match.

Players for Clear Creek are: Tony Shepard, Mike Hurley, Chad Henley, Brad Bradway, Mike Shelly, Rodney Lindsey, Jeff Cowan, John Ferguson, Dave Kuchman, Hugh Hasty, Connie Bowman, Pete Thompson, Tommy Brown and Eddie Fowler.

Playing for the VCC will be: Bubba Mims, Bill Hassell, Bucky Buckner, Greg Clement, Kevin East, Jake Dornbusch, Bob Houser, Mike Curtis, Larry Rocconi, Bobby Burks, Jamie Creel, Randy Wright, Jim Hobson and Ben Webb.