The Mississippi Women’s Golf Association Championship Tournament is looking at a full field for its 2000 event, something that has happened a lot in the past.

Tournament publicity chairman Mary Lessley believes the fact the tournament is being held at Beau Pre’ Country Club is a big reason for that.

&uot;We had 92 signed up last Friday with two more calling in,&uot; Lessley said. &uot;Our limit is 96, so I think we’ll be looking at a full field.&uot;

Lessley said Natchez’s reputation as being so hospitable is one reason for the big field.

&uot;And I think word has spread about how wonderful a golf course Beau Pre is,&uot;&160;Lessley said. &uot;We had a number of ladies competing in the Guys and Dolls Tournament (last month) play here for the first time and they said they definitely wanted to come back and play in the state tournament.&uot;

Lisa Eidt Whitam of Natchez is competing in her first championship.

Whitam’s great aunt, Elizabeth Eidt, who later married former Duncan Park golf pro Bill McKenney, won the sixth state championship held at Duncan Park.

Elizabeth Eidt became the youngest ever champion at the age of 22.

Whitam began playing golf at the age of seven. She took four years off when daughter Laura was born and just returned to playing golf two months ago.

The state championship being played here was one reason for her return to the links, along with her daughter’s turning five.

&uot;I really wanted to play in this tournament,&uot; she said. &uot;And Laura is at the age where she enjoys going along.&uot;

Whitam, 37, said her game is about where she would expect it.

&uot;I have not played in so long that it’s very sporadic,&uot; she said. &uot;But I’m just going out to have fun and say I participated.&uot;

Frances Meason of Natchez will also be competing in her first state tournament.

&uot;We’ll have people out here playing of all ages,&uot; Meason said. &uot;We’ll have some in their 70s down to teenagers. It’s going to be great.&uot;

Meason was busy baby-sitting Cissye Gallagher’s seven-month old daugther Elizabeth Tuesday as Gallagher got in a practice round with Whitam and Jean Daigre.

Elizabeth must have still been happy about her mom’s win because she smiled and wrinkled her nose for 15 minutes while mom was busy getting ready for her round of golf.

And if Gallagher is an indication of the type of players descending upon Natchez next weekend, you can count on a class tournament.

Gallagher has won two straight women’s tournaments, winning in Meridian last year while six months pregnant with Elizabeth. She defeated Pam Posey for the championship on the final day, having to go nine extra holes in sudden death.

Right now 15 Natchez players are competing. They are Whitam, Agatha Haring, Bethany Overton, Mary Lessley, Betsy Powell, Barbara McKinley, Tricia Brooks, Pat Dickens, Daigre, Meason, Cheryl Dillon, Rhonda Kaiser, Peggy McCall, Peggy Berniard, Sally Durkin and Judy Powell.

Brooks is the newest addition to the Beau Pre’ staff as an assistant golf pro.

Beau Pre’ golf pro Mark Powell said the course is in great condition.

&uot;Everything is going great and we’re looking forward to the tournament,&uot;&160;Powell said.

Joey Martin is sports editor of The Democrat. He can be reached by calling 446-5172 ext. 232 or at joey.martin@natchezdemocrat.com.