CAPE HOISTS CUP FOR FIRST TIME

Home sweet home course.

For the first time in its nine-year history, the Southeast Missourian Cup competition was held at Cape Girardeau Country Club.

And for the first time ever, Cape Girardeau Country Club's contingency won the coveted Cup on Saturday.

Behind an excellent day by the twosome of head professional Jack Connell and Dr. Jeff Patton, Cape Girardeau Country Club's 551 edged last year's winner and five-time champion, Kimbeland Country Club, by one stroke, and 1994 winner Westwood Hills Country Club of Poplar Bluff by two.

Sikeston Country Club shot 573, Kennett Country Club 581 and Hidden Trails Country Club of Dexter 585.

"We had the best chance, probably, playing at home, and it's our first win, and we're excited," said Connell. "We thought we had a good team, yet it doesn't get any closer than what it was. It was a great competition, and everybody I'm sure had a great time.

"There's a lot of friendships and a lot of rivalry, so to speak, among the clubs. We get to smile today. It was our day."

The six clubs' eight-man teams played four nine-hole formats: scramble, four-ball (best ball), scotch (alternate shot) and Chapman (a form of alternate shot).

The stars of the day were Connell and Patton. Behind a scramble score of 29, the best score of the day, 33 in Chapman and 35s in four-ball and scotch, the pair won the overall title with a 132. Kimbeland's David Clabaugh and Mark Unger took second with a 134, and head professional Todd Eastin and Todd Ladd, also of Kimbeland, finished third with a 135.

After shooting par in four-ball, the pair's six-under round in scramble was perhaps the difference. Connell and Patton birdied the first six holes in scramble.

"I think we're going to take on the Ryder Cup team next time," quipped Patton. "I've won four club championships out here, and this means more to me than any of those. We've got the best pro in Southeast Missouri."

The other representatives of Cape Girardeau Country Club were Mark Johnson, Jack Smith, Tom Hamilton, Mark McDowell, Larry McKinney and Ron Seabaugh.

Two teams from Westwood Hills won the four-ball format. Steve Schock and Jim Markel, and Ben Godwin and Scott Spencer each shot 32.

In Chapman, Cape Girardeau Country Club's Johnson and Smith shot 32 to win. And in scotch, Kimbeland's Clabaugh and Unger shot a tournament-best 34.