NATCHEZ — Though golf seems to run in the blood of the Gallagher family, Cissye Gallagher never pushed it as more than a fun time with her family.

Cissye is the wife of golf pro Jim Gallagher, whom she met through a teammate when she played golf for Louisiana State University.

He was playing golf at the University of Tennessee, and once they got married, the couple knew they wanted to implement golf in their children’s lives — whether it was competitive or recreational.

“We started the kids playing Sundays after church. We would sneak out and play as a family,” Cissye said. “It’s just something we enjoy doing as a family, it’s a great game and it’s a game you can play together at every level. You can enjoy each other’s company and play your own ball and have a great time together.”

Jim has won five times on the PGA tour and Cissye has won the Mississippi Women’s Golf State Amateur Tournament 11 times in her career.

But it doesn’t stop there.

Cissye and Jim have four children, two of which are avid golfers. The mother and daughters are all competing in the state tournament.

Mary Langdon just finished her eligibility playing for the Mississippi State University golf team, she also won the state tournament in 2010, and Kathleen is the defending state champion as she won the 2013 state tournament at 16 years old.

Kathleen has also committed to play golf at LSU.

The Gallaghers have another son and daughter who also enjoy golf.

Cissye said it’s a joy to see her children compete and do well in the sport.

“It’s just so precious to me and my children to enjoy the game and watch them compete, and its all I really want from my children is to see them do their very best,” Cissye said.

Mary Langdon said she enjoys hitting the green with her younger sibling and mother.

“There is a little trash talking sometimes off the course, but we focus on playing,” Mary Langdon said.

Mary Langdon also said she knows Cissye is stiff competition.

“It’s intimidating and it’s kind of surreal because you’re not mother and daughter at that time, you’re competitors,” Mary Langdon said. “I just try to get in the mindset of making plays and maybe win a hole and get on to the next one.”

Mary Langdon and Kathleen are both going for their second championship, but Kathleen said she wasn’t even expecting to win her first.

“That tournament was in Greenwood, and it’s the course where I’m a member and I had so much confidence on it,” Kathleen said. “I didn’t think about winning the State Am, I just wanted to win matches, I think that was the first time I ever won my first match,

“And I ended up winning the entire thing.”

Kathleen said it’s still hard to believe she won, but as the defending champ, she came into the state tournament at Beau Pre’ Monday as the No. 1 seed.

Monday was the qualifying round, which Kathleen didn’t have to participate in, but she went out with her mother and sister to have fun — at least it was fun for her.

“Of course it was a lot easier on me than (Cissye and Mary Langdon) because they have to qualify,” Kathleen said, “But I’m exited about match play (today), we don’t get to play with each other much because Mary Langdon is in college, but this week will be fun, and I look forward to seeing what will happen.”

What happened Monday was a lot of damp golf play, but Cissye said the Gallagher group was fortunate enough to finish their 18 holes before the rain really started to pour.

Most importantly, Cissye said she is looking for a fun time with her two girls.

And let the best Gallagher win.