ANNUAL LASSIES CLASSIC TOURNEY BEGINS TODAY

From a fairly humble beginning of 30 teams, the Lassies Classic Golf Scramble has over the years evolved into a full-blown tournament featuring competitors from five states and a limit of 100 teams -- and the field never takes long to fill up.

The 21st edition of the Lassies Classic -- a Scottish-themed tournament patterned after the "old course" in St. Andrews, Scotland -- will take place today and Thursday at the Cape Girardeau Country Club.

"We started out just wanting to have a tournament (21 years ago) and it has just grown and grown," said tournament creator and organizer Marion Miles. "We could get a lot more than 100 teams but that's really enough to make things run smoothly. It fills up quickly. And everybody really enjoys themselves."

Miles said the idea for the tournament began with a trip she and her husband took to Scotland more than two decades ago.

"My husband and I went to Scotland and played the old course, where the first women's golf association was founded," she explained. "We got back and, with a few other couples, talked about it and decided to have a tournament."

Tartan plaid flags will line the entrance to the Cape Girardeau Country Club when play in the two-woman, 36-hole, scramble event begins at 8 a.m. today.

Two hundred golfers from five states will play around Loch Lomond and across Loch Ness, where the Monster of Loch Ness resides. The 25-foot, multicolored monster has been a staple of the tournament since its inception.

Defending champions Harriet Myers and Diane Fowler of New Madrid will be back to try and repeat their title. Miles believes that duo will receive a stern challenge from Vicki Long of Cape Girardeau and Janice Hoffman of Dexter, who captured the title in 1997 and were second last year.

"The top two teams are back again and I think they'll be fighting it out again," Miles said.

Past Winners of Lassie Classic

Year No. of Winners

Teams

1979 30 Marge and Lisa Thompson, Cape C.C.

1980 48 Mary Bain and Polly Bess, Dexter and Murray, Ky.

1981 54 Flo Lewis and Linda Matheny, Kimbeland C.C.

1982 78 Mary Lorch and Lois Bertrand, St. Louis.

1983 78 Mary Lorch and Lois Bertrand, St. Louis.

1984 85 Essie Poole and Dee Hamer, Kimbeland.

1985 90 Mary Bain and Polly Bess, Dexter and Murray, Ky.

1986 88 Mary Bain and Polly Bess, Dexter and Murray, Ky.

1987 93 Martha Hamilton and Barb Johnson, Cape and Kmbeland.

1988 96 Mary Bain and Polly Bess, Dexter and Murray, Ky.

1989 99 Mary Bain and Polly Bess, Dexter and Murray, Ky.

1990 94 Judy Brey and Barb Meisner, Cape and California.

1991 108 Sue Taylor and Rosetta Johnson, Paducah, Ky., and Cape.

1992 98 Mary Jo Lasley and Ann Kieneath, Anna, Ill., and Herrin Ill.

1993 96 Vicki Long and Janet Hoffman, Kimbeland and Dexter.

1994 100 Rechelle Cadwell and Lisa Jarrett, Calvert City, Ky., and Benton, Ky.

1995 100 Rechelle Cadwell and Lisa Jarrett, Calvert City, Ky., and Benton, Ky.

1996 100 Diane Fowler and Harriet Myers, New Madrid

1997 98 Vicki Long and Janice Hoffman, Kimbeland and Dexter.

1998 100 Diane Fowler and Harriet Myers, New Madrid

Rechelle Cadwell and Lisa Jarrett hold the tournament's best score ever by firing a 125 in the 1994 tournament.