Usual names top leaderboard at Lassies Classic tournament

Defending champions Diane Fowler and Harriette Myers are in good position to win their eighth Lassies Classic title.

But in order to accomplish that, they'll again have to fend off a strong challenge from Janice Hoffman and Vicki Long.

Fowler and Myers, who edged Hoffman and Long by one stroke for last year's championship, hold a one-shot lead over that duo following Wednesday's opening round of the 29th annual event at the Cape Girardeau Country Club.

Fowler and Myers shot 64 in the two-person scramble format, just ahead of the 65 turned in by Hoffman and Long. The next-closest teams shot 68.

A full field of 96 teams from six states is participating in the event that concludes today with 18 more holes.

Betty Michel hit a fairway shot to the fourth hole during the first round of the Lassies Classic.