Missouri's best ready to tee off at Dalhousie

~ The field was expanded for the two-day tournament.

A field that is busting at the seams may be the best indication of the anticipation level for the Missouri Mid-Amateur Championship that begins today at Dalhousie Golf Club.

While the last two fields for the annual fall tournament barely topped 80 golfers, the first Missouri Golf Association tournament at Dalhousie has a field of 130, which surpasses the 120-player maximum.

MGA director Scott Hovis allowed the field to be expanded for this year's tournament, the 12th edition, noting there also was a waiting list.

The two-day tournament begins each day at 7:45 a.m. The public is welcome to watch the action from the cartpaths.

There wasn't much mystery in Hovis' mind about the reason for the flood of entries.

"I say a lot of that has to do with golf course," Hovis said.

More than 50 players in the field are from the St. Louis area, 10 are from around Kansas City, eight from Poplar Bluff and seven from Springfield. The immediate area will be represented by six players from Cape Girardeau and one from Jackson.

The trek from Kansas City is more than five hours, while four players have made an even longer trip from St. Joseph, which is about 60 miles north of Kansas City. Hovis, the 2004 champion, has traveled four hours from Jefferson City.

"The guys will drive the distance for the golf facility," Hovis said. "The word is out on Dalhousie being so great."

Dalhousie is hosting its biggest tournament to date and the first of three MGA events. The course will host the Missouri Four-Ball Championship in 2007 and the Missouri Amateur Championship in 2012.

The tournament is a 36-hole stroke-play event for golfers 25 and over, which eliminates college and high school players. Competitors have paid the $125 entry fee and have an established handicap at a course that is an MGA member.

The $125 entry fee, which included a practice round on Friday, is a bargain, providing three rounds on the private course.

"You can't beat that," Hovis said. "Guys will drive seven hours for that."

The field includes defending champion Dee Sanders of Columbia, as well the reigning Missouri Amateur champion Ben Godwin of Poplar Bluff. This year's runner-up, Brian Haskell of St. Joseph, is also present. Don Bliss of Chesterfield, Mo., a four-time Missouri Amateur (1972, 1983, 1986, 1988) and two-time Mid-Amateur (1996, 1997) champion will also compete. Steve Groom (2001) of Raytown and Scott Thomas (1995) of St. Louis each own a Mid-Amateur title, with Thomas also winning the Missouri Amateur (1992). Missouri Stroke Play champions in the field are Robert Godwin (1999) of Poplar Bluff and B.J. Curry (2004) of Sedalia.

Hovis was among three MGA officials to play the course Thursday and selected pin positions on Friday.

"It's unbelievable," Hovis said of the course. "It lived up to all its hype that I've heard from people around the state. It was everything they said, plus more."

The MGA will have the course playing 7,000 yards, which is a little short of the maximum length of 7,300.

Dalhousie general manager Andy Deiro credited course superintendent Todd Ellis for perfect conditions.

"This was not an easy summer by any means," Deiro said. "We had extreme heat with humidity, a dry spell, 10 inches of rain, and then a dry spell.."

Deiro said golfers can expect to see a fair course.

"If you're hitting the ball good, you can score," Deiro said. "Any hole you can make a birdie or a triple bogey. That's the cool thing about Dalhousie. I'm excited to see what the guys can shoot out there."

Hovis said there are 10 to 20 guys that can win in the field.

"I think the guy that has the most patience and the guy that has the best distance control [will win]," Hovis said. "You have to know how far to hit the ball with your irons. If you don't, there are spots where you're dead."

Cape Girardeau golfers in the field are Ben Cantrell, John Harding, Bryan Johnson, Jeff Patton, Jack Pettet and Tony Sangchompuphen. Bob Englehart of Jackson will also compete.