Lassies Classic maintains its tradition

The root of tradition is often unassuming and innocent, but at some point embraced and called upon to be duplicated, a Xerox copy of the past -- much like the Lassies Classic, held each July at the Cape Girardeau Country Club.

The two-woman, two-day tournament will hold its 24th edition today and Thursday. The popular tournament, which the organizers won't allow to vary far from past events, has become ingrained tradition, from bagpipe music to tartan flags, to a floating "Loch Ness Monster" on the par 3 No. 6 hole.

Marion Miles-Edwards received the inspiration on a trip to Scotland in 1978 when she played the Old Course at St. Andrews with her late-husband Harvey.

The course was the home of the first ladies golf association in 1867. It turned out the Old Course had plenty of history to spare, lending a bit of its tradition to Southeast Missouri.

"We played the course and came back talking about it and decided to have a tournament and pattern it off the Old Course," Miles-Edwards said.

With a strong dose of golf's essence, she joined forces with Marcia Wagner, Beth Mapes, Edith Lansman, Ann Dombrowski and Diane Nader to hold the first Lassies' Classic in 1979.

After 30 teams that first year, the field grew to 50 the second year and doubled just a few years later. Did she foresee a full 100-team field with a waiting list in years down the road?

"Not at all," Miles-Edwards said. "I thought it was a couple years at the most. And here its is -- we'll celebrate our 25th next year."

The tournament grew to 108 teams one year, which Miles-Edwards said was too big, and was trimmed back to an even 100. While extremely popular, the Woman's Golf Association doesn't use it to make a hefty profit.

"We give back practically everything in prizes," Miles-Edwards said. "I think that's why they all like to come back. We have good entertainment, a good dinner and good prizes. We try to keep it the same year after year."

While the organizers are sticklers for keeping everything in place, a few changes have forced their way forward.

A bagpiper has retired and given way to piped in bagpipes. The music plays for about an hour before the morning and afternoon groups tee off, or as Miles-Edwards says, "as long as they can stand it."

And the "Loch Ness Monster" was originally a two-foot tall Sinclair dinosaur, but has long since been replaced. Turns out dinosaurs are a delicacy of the club's turtles and are forced to be replaced every few years. Each time the prehistoric beast returns a little bigger than its predecessor and now measures 25 feet in length.

Another tradition has been formed: handing the championship trophy to Harriette Myers and Diane Fowler of New Madrid. The tandem has won the title four times, including the last three times (1998, '99, '00). Myers and Fowler were attempting to tie the tournament record of five titles last year -- held by Mary Bain of Sikeston and Polly Bess of Dexter -- but rain washed out the event for the first time.

Among their top challengers should be former champions Vicki Long and Janice Hoffman and the duo of Martha Hamilton and Barb Johnson.

This year the co-chairmans are Marlena Jones and Pat Strom.

Dalhousie yields an ace

James W. Riley Jr. carded the first hole in one ever on Dalhousie Golf Club's No. 8, a 185-yard par 3.

Riley used a 4-iron in sinking his third career ace. Witnesses were George Landre, Ken Asher, Tom Armbruster and Tom Howard.

Chip-A-Ways

Waunita VanDyke shot a 40 to win `A' flight in the Chip-A-Ways' weekly event at Cape Jaycee Municipal Golf Course.

Jan Weinhold and Evelyn Riley tied for first in `B' flight at 49.

Play of the day -- 'Longest Drive on No. 2' -- was won by Linda Williams. Melba Masterson posted the low-putt total.

Kimbeland Country Club

Maggie Niswonger was medalist at the Ladies' Golf Association's weekly competition at Kimbeland Country Club in Jackson, Mo.

Play of the day was 'Most 4's'. Winners were Dixie Jones in `A' flight and Maggie Niswonger in 'B' flight.

At tournament at Charleston Country Club, Kimbeland members Betty Belote and Barb Johnson tied for first in championship flight. Peggy Fee and Lillian Schneider tied for the top spot in 'B' flight.