MARSEILLES IN SOUTHERN CUP

Marseilles in Southern Cup

JEFF BRASEL

Harrison Daily | 7/28/2016

PHOTO CREDIT: Jeff Brasel

A long summer of work has paid off for Jackson Marseilles.

The Harrison senior worked hard on the Arkansas State Golf Association tour this summer and earned his way to the Southern Cup.

Based on a Ryder Cup format, the Southern Cup features four states in the competition. Besides the Arkansas golfers, athletes from Missouri, Mississippi and Alabama will participate in the event that features the top six junior golfers from each state.

“It is great to represent Arkansas,” said Marseilles. “I made it one of my goals at the beginning of the summer to make the team and it feels great to accomplish that, and I can’t wait to represent my home state.”

This year the Southern Cup will be held in Arkansas at the Country Club of Little Rock.
“I have never played the course before,” he said. “My first time to play the course will be the practice round the day before the event.”

That day will be on Wednesday. The matches will be played on Aug. 4 and 5.

As the team takes the course next week, Marseilles will be playing with his friends as they will have a united front competing for Arkansas.

“I know all of the other players from Arkansas,” he said. “I have become really good friends with several of them over the past couple years.”

Marseilles’ summer has had some ups and downs, but mostly ups. He won one tournament and finished third in two events and fourth in one in his last four events of the summer.

“I started off the summer playing very well with a couple of good finishes and then a victory,” he said. “I struggled a little bit in the middle of the season, but I finished very strong.”

Marseilles finished the summer as the No. 3 player in Arkansas which helped him earn the Southern Cup honor.

“I finished third in the player of the year standings, and that is what qualified me for the team,” he said. “The top four players in the player of the year standings are automatically picked. The last two players on the squad are captain’s picks.

Joining Marseilles on the team are No. 1 Ryan Spurlock. Spurlock is a fellow 5A-West teammate from Maumelle. Luke Long of Fayetteville is on the squad as is Wil Gibson of Jonesboro.

Connor Gaunt of Cabot and Trey DePriest of Lake City round out the team.

Maumelle had two girls make the Junior Girl squad. Josie Roberson and Allie Weiner are joined by Hannah Bakalekos of Sherwood; Stephanie Leake, Little Rock; Sydney Staton, Fort Smith; and Olivia Parker, Conway.

Playing and representing Arkansas is an honor that Marseilles doesn’t take lightly.
“Yes, there is definitely a lot of pressure involved,” he said when questioned about the national spotlight. “I have worked all summer for this, and I want to represent Arkansas well. This is something I will try to keep out of my head while I’m playing though.”

Marseilles’ success on the course is not by accident.

“He has an incredible work ethic,” said Harrison coach Don Price. “He is the hardest worker that I have ever coached. He is so athletic and combined with his work ethic makes him a great player. He will only get better.”

The Goblin knows where he will get better once he leaves the fairways at the Harrison County Club. Marseilles has committed to play golf next season for Arkansas Tech University in Russellville.

As the summer days heat up the course next week in Little Rock, Marseilles will have a big group of family support. He is the son of John and Elizabeth Marseilles, and he is the brother the Wilson and Halle.

Marseilles’ final high school season was set to begin on Wednesday in Springdale, but the Golden Goblin hopes to bring back the gold for Arkansas in the Southern Cup.
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