NATCHEZ &045; Mary Kate Byrne and Aisha Sanders really thought this spring was going to be special.

With a little help from their friends and some increased visibility of golf at the school, this was going to be the spring where Cathedral would put together a girls’ golf team instead of the two suiting up with the boys. Yet when the first tournament was just on the horizon, there they were on the links by themselves practicing with the boys.

But hope, however, came in the form of a letter.

The Mississippi High School Activities Association sent word out gauging interest for a possible girls’ invitational tournament, a first of its kind within the association, and that’s all the CHS pair had to hear.

The tournament is Tuesday at Clear Creek Country Club in Bovina.

&uot;I was so excited when I heard about it,&uot; Byrne said. &uot;Coach (Roy) Garcia got the e-mail, and Coach Craig (Beesley) got an e-mail. I wanted to do it as soon as I heard about it. There’s not many girls playing, but it’s a good opportunity for all the girls in Mississippi.&uot;

The tournament is a test to see what kind of interest is out there in girls’ golf among the prep ranks and could be the start of something much bigger. Other states have girls’ golf state tournaments with good enough talent coming out of the high school ranks.

So far MHSAA officials are expecting at least 10 participants in the invitational tournament.

&uot;We thought we’d have a little bit better turnout, but we don’t know how many will show up,&uot; MHSAA associate director Larry Thomas said. &uot;It’s an invitational. It’s a starting point to promote girls’ golf. We don’t know if we’ll have 10 or 20. I really don’t know what to expect. There are some girls playing on the regular boys’ team and have their division tournament that day.&uot;

Fortunately for Byrne and Sanders, the Division 7-1A tournament will be the next day in Natchez and will allow them to play. Thomas said the tournament has been in the works for a couple of years now, and Tuesday’s field will determine how things will go in the future.

Expected in the field Tuesday will be Madison Central’s Erica Payton, daughter of Jackson State golf coach Eddie Payton.

&uot;I talked to the two who have been playing here since the seventh grade, and they said they wanted to do it,&uot; CHS golf coach Ken Beesley Jr. said. &uot;They’re used to playing with the boys, especially Mary Kate. She’s been playing with them for two years. Aisha has played in three or four tournament the last two years, but she doesn’t have the experience Mary Kate has. I’m interested to see how she does.

&uot;Both of them have to play their game. If it’s good enough, it’s good enough. If not, it’s the best they can do. That’s all I can ask them to do.&uot;

It’ll be the first time to play in a tournament sans boys for both players. Byrne has had experience playing without boys in the city ladies’ tournament at Duncan Park and in the Gulf States PGA tournaments during the summer, but this will be her first school-sanctioned field that will be all girls.

Not that it’s a bad thing. She’s grown accustomed to playing with the boys.

&uot;I guess when I first started I felt like I might be slowing them down,&uot; Byrne said. &uot;But it’s not bad. You just have to play your game and not let it bother you. This year I’ve really had the privilege to play with the guys I played with at tournaments, and they’re all real nice and don’t lose their temper. I’ve played with some people who get really mad. But I’ve really enjoyed it this year.&uot;

Byrne said she’s taking lessons with Tom Bryant at Beau Pr along with Bub Mullins while she’s trying to get down to a single handicap and shot her best of 84 at 72-par Clear Creek. Sanders is trying to improve her game and get her score down as well following her one tournament this spring at Wolf Hollow in Wesson.

&uot;My dad made me play when I was little, and I didn’t understand it then,&uot; Sanders said. &uot;I always said I like golf but I can’t quit because I’m not a quitter. Over the years I decided I didn’t like it because I wasn’t good at it, but I decided to work at it. I can go to the driving range and hit all day.&uot;

The turnout Tuesday will decide if MHSAA officials could stage a state tournament in the future, but both Sanders and Byrne are at least hoping for more visibility from the tournament. Both would love to latch on somewhere on a college scholarship to play golf, and a girls’ tournament &045; even an invitational format &045; could help in that regard.

&uot;That’s all (Mary Kate) has been doing for the last two years,&uot; Beesley said. &uot;She’s trying real hard for a scholarship, and she’s worked her tail off to get it. Whether she gets one or not, I don’t know. If it came down to trying, she’ll get it.&uot;

Scholarship or not, it’s an opportunity for both to play the game they enjoy playing. And it’s a chance to show everyone just how much fun golf can be for girls.

&uot;I’m really hoping for the future of girls’ golf it will start to catch on,&uot; Byrne said. &uot;When I was little, I’d ride around the golf course with my grandfather at Bellwood. He gave me my first set of golf clubs. I’m really hoping next year it will catch on and more girls will come out. I just wish more girls in Natchez would get into it. It’s starting to grow.&uot;