The 2000 Mississippi Women’s Golf Association Tournament tees off today at Beau Pr\u00E9 County Club.

Cissye Gallaher of Greenwood will be seeking her fourth straight title, ninth overall.

The tournament is match play, which means players are paired off after the qualifying round. Each game is played by holes. A hole is won by the player who holes her ball in the fewest strokes.

If a player is up more holes than number of holes left to play, she is considered the winner. Stroke play scores are not posted because they are not recorded in match play. With players conceding putts and holes, there is no accurate means to keep a score in relation to par.

Gallagher defeated Marion native Pam Posey in sudden to win the title last year in Meridian. She was six months pregnant at the time.

&uot;It wasn’t that bad, although it was a little warm,&uot; Gallagher said. &uot;We’ve enjoyed this baby so much.&uot;

Elizabeth is the fourth child (third daughter) of Cissye and Jim Gallagher. Jim is a PGA pro.

&uot;I played well,&uot; Gallagher said. &uot;The course was set up good for me. The tournament was late in the summer (end of July), so that was a little more of an advantage for me. I don’t play all year long and that’s about the time things slow down for us.&uot;

Gallagher said she has not been able to play much golf over the past few years, but always makes a point of playing in the state championship.

&uot;I always look forward to playing in this tournament,&uot; she said. &uot;And I’m looking forward to playing here. I’ve heard some great things about this course. I love the undulations and big greens, and I’m looking forward to playing them.&uot;

Beau Pr\u00E9 Golf Pro Mark Powell said recent rains should not hamper play.

&uot;Obviously we don’t want rain during the tournament,&uot;&160;he said. &uot;But this golf course can take a lot of rain. It really shouldn’t hamper the course.&uot;

Barbara Wilkinson and Sonya Wood of Vicksburg are participating in their first state tournaments, but it has nothing to do with the proximity of this year’s event.

&uot;I decided to do it for the experience,&uot; Wilkinson said. &uot;In the past I haven’t been able to take off or I didn’t want to give up vacation time. But this kind of competition is good because it will put a lot of pressure on me.&uot;

Wilkinson talked Wood into playing.

&uot;We usually play together, so she convinced me to come along,&uot; Wood said.

Wilkinson, 38, said she is not coming into the tournament with high expectations,.

&uot;I want to at least not double my handicap (nine),&uot; she said. &uot;Sonya is a great long ball hitter. I may not get there in two, but I have a pretty good short game.&uot;

Wood said she wants to at least win one match play competition.

&uot;I’m here for the experience as well,&uot; she said.

Pat Dickens, president of the Beau Pre’ Women’s Association, said 15 members of Beau Pre’ will be competing.

&uot;Going by handicaps, (soon-to-be assistant golf pro) Tricia Brooks, Judy Powell, Lisa Whitam, Sally Durkin and Peggy Berniard will be our best shots,&uot; she said. &uot;We’ve got three who can shoot in the 70s and one in the low 80s. It should be a real good tournament.&uot;

The tournament will also feature a junior and senior division.

&uot;Some of the juniors will be playing college golf one day,&uot; Dickens said.

&uot;They are very talented.&uot;