CAPE C.C. DRESSES A `WEE BIT' SCOTTISH FOR LASSIES CLASSIC

Professional golfers participating in this week's British Open will be facing swirling winds and deep rough as action begins in Scotland.

But the 198 women competing in the 19th Annual Lassies Classic Scramble, starting today at the Cape Girardeau Country Club, will be faced with a few Scottish obstacles of their own.

Golfers will have to shoot over the Loch Ness monster and the water of Loch Lomond will come into play on the back nine. Tartan plaid flags will also mark the holes on the greens of this Scottish-theme women's tournament started by Marion Miles.

"We've modeled it after the Old Course in Scotland," said Miles. "My husband and I played golf there 20 years ago and when we came back, some of the women wanted to have a golf tournament. They decided to pattern it after St. Andrew's in Scotland."

The first ladies golf association was formed in 1867 at St. Andrew's. In that spirit, the Lassies Classic has proven to be one of the top women's tournaments in Southeast Missouri.

"We have tartan plaid flags on the greens and we've renamed the holes to resemble those in Scotland," Miles said.

Golfers from four different states will compete this year and Miles said there is a waiting list to enter the Classic.

The 36-hole event will start today at 8 a.m., with the first 50 teams teeing off. In the afternoon, the remaining 49 teams will tee off with today's scores positioning the women into one of five classes.

The "monster" will be patrolling the waters of Loch Ness on Hole 6. The multi-colored, 25-foot, inflatable beast has become a landmark of the tournament.

"We blow him up every year and he's about 25 feet long," said Miles. "He looks like a big dragon, mostly yellow, but he's all different colors."

After class qualification today, a "gathering of the clan" at the "royal and ancient" clubhouse will precede dinner and entertainment. Final round action begins Thursday at 8 a.m.