The caravan of 30 golf carts moving slowly along the cart path at Beau Pr\u00E9 Country Club told you something special was happening at the year-old golf course.

And indeed it was.

Golf fans followed four of the top female golfers in the state as they drove, chipped and putted their way through at least 16 holes, battling for the final two spots of the championship flight.

Eight-time winner Cissye Gallagher held off upstart Tammy Wroten of Summit, who was playing in her first amateur state event, but showed no signs of intimidation reaching the semifinals.

Gallagher showed flashes of the brilliant player she is in holding off Wroten and reaching another final. Despite playing in very few tournaments to tend to her four children and follow husband Jim on the PGA Tour, Gallagher still shows one of the top forms around.

After today’s round, she and her children, two who are here and two in vacation Bible school in Greenwood, will meet Jim in Memphis, where the Federal Express St. Jude Classic is taking place.

Then there is the venerable Lou Hart of Meridian. The 48-year-old Meridian Community College golf coach defines the word competitive. She has nine state championships, and No. 10 is sure a possibility in the future with the fiery golfer.

Even after losing a tough match, Hart was gracious in defeat, even admitting she was disappointed about losing.

&uot;The bad thing about it is that Pam and I are real close friends,&uot; Hart said. &uot;If I hated her, it would be easier to be upset. But I’m very happy for her.&uot;

And then there’s Pam Posey. The Marion golfer has finished second twice to Gallagher and one other time in 1996 to Angela Chancellor.

Posey is steady and deserving of a title.

You could arguably say the two classiest ladies in the field will face off Wednesday, but that could cover more than half the field as well.

Posey and Gallagher are true champions on and off the course and do wonders for Mississippi golf.

Today’s finals promises to be just as exciting as Wednesday’s semifinals. Tee time is 10:20 a.m. and anyone who appreciates good golf should not miss it.

And match play is so exciting.

&uot;You have three goals,&uot; Gallagher said. &uot;First is the qualifying tournament and making the championship flight.&160;Then it’s a whole new tournament and you want to reach the finals. And now your goal is to win it. Wow! It’s incredible.&uot;

While the women have definitely been the stars for this week’s spectacular event, Beau Pr\u00E9 itself and the folks who work the course and tournament have certainly earned their share of praise.

Even with four rain delays since Monday, the course looked as if it hasn’t rained in weeks.

&uot;This is great advertisement for Beau Pr\u00E9 because all of these golfers are going to go home and talk about how wonderful a course this is and everybody will want to come play it,&uot; said tournament co-chairman Pat Dickens of Natchez.

Visiting golfers could not stop talking about the course, and of course the great Natchez hospitality.

&uot;I love playing this golf course,&uot; Gallagher said. &uot;And every day I like it more. It’s so much fun.&uot;

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