Downtown tournament brings out 40 golfers to raise money for Red House

Skill and low scores weren't essential to enjoy the First-Ever Fifth Annual Louis J. Lorimier Memorial World-Famous Downtown Golf Tournament and All-You-Can-Eat Catfish Buffet on Sunday in Cape Girardeau, where 40 people came together for sun and fun and to support a downtown attraction.

Although attendance was down from the 2009 tournament, event coordinator Charlie Herbst said he was pleased with the turnout.

"Forty is fine; it's a good number," he said. "It's a hot day, there's a lot going on around the city. As long as people continue to show up, we'll continue to have the tournament."

The annual golf tournament is a fundraiser for the Red House Interpretive Center, which had to cut hours this season because of economic difficulties. The center is now only open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.

The tournament has two golf courses: one course of nine holes through the streets of downtown, including the lawn of the Common Pleas Courthouse, and nine holes at the River Campus.

Paul Nenninger, who helped many others build the Red House Interpretive Center, golfed in the tournament for the third time with his wife, Marilyn.

Nenninger said the tournament, played with a BirdieBall -- a golf ball-sized plastic cylinder -- is an opportunity to beef up his skills for an actual course.

"Really it's an accurate practice ball," he said. "If you overswing, you get all the same faults as a real ball."

Don Greenwood, a downtown resident who designed the tournament scorecards and souvenir T-shirts, said helping to support the Red House is important to him.

Like Nenninger, Greenwood helped to build the downtown historical site. Mostly, though, he enjoys the camaraderie and getting to see his friends, also regulars at the tournament.

"It's the only golf I've ever played in my life," Greenwood said.

Kathie Graviett and Brenda McQuay were rookies at the tournament, although they weren't letting that break their confidence. They're both regulars at an area golf course, they said.

"The tournament is just something we always wanted to do," McQuay said. "We are just really out to have a good day together, a girl's day out."

Participants headed to Port Cape for a catfish buffet after playing.

Chad Lauk took first place on the downtown course, followed by Matt Hopkins in second and Tom Meyer in third.

First place at the River Campus was Matt Lawler.

ehevern@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent addresses:

44 N. Lorimier St., Cape Girardeau, MO

518 S. Fountain St., Cape Girardeau, MO