NEW HAMBURG, Mo. -- Schindler's Tavern, the starting point for golf balls passing over a cow pasture onto the adjoining St. Lawrence Parish portion of a makeshift golf course, was swamped with golfers Saturday at the 24th annual Kow Pasture Klassic Golf Tournament.

Proceeds from the event, which came to about $8,500 last year, are split between Missouri Veterans Home and the Kenny Rogers Children's Center in Sikeston, Mo. Ten veterans from the Missouri Veterans Home and Josh Klipfel of New Hamburg, an adult who received services from the children's center when he was a child, were in attendance.

"Several of the residents attended before but a couple of the new residents had never attended before," said Debbie Monroe, Missouri Veterans Home supervisor of volunteer services. "Some had a beer and they enjoyed the bologna burgers."

The center serves nearly 300 children with special needs from birth to 21 years old. Services include physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy.

Golfers playing on rough terrain make adjustments for the fundraiser. Equipment incudes the traditional use of tennis balls, and hockey sticks, croquet mallets, mannequin legs, tennis racquets, shovels, pool sticks and boat oars all see use as clubs.

Mitch Miller, event organizer since the first year, said 35 teams signed up this year, a few more than last year.

"In a down economy you can't quite explain it, but Mother Nature cooperated and I think it has a lot to do with the good Lord who knows the good causes this event will benefit," Miller said.

Miller hopes to match the amount raised last year and said he thinks it will be possible with the extra teams in combination with other fundraising efforts. The entry fee for a team of four was $160.

The Southern Belle team -- made up of Brandy Bollinger, Jenny Grojean, Murphy Welter and Jason Grojean -- had their own caddie, Allison Fodge, who has been with the team for the last few years they've been participating.

To go along with the Southern Belle theme, women on the team decorated the golf clubs with flowers and multicolored yarn. Coordinating mugs were wrapped in the same yarn, and blue hats coordinated with their Southern Belle T-shirts.

"The Southern Belles fits us. There are different sayings for the moods of different days," Bollinger said.

Men on the team had no specific attire, although Welter had no problem wearing a borrowed rhinestone hat before teeing off.

"We never practice," Bollinger said. "We show up and what you see is what you get."

cpagano@semissourian.com

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pertinent address:

Schindler's Tavern

1029 State Hwy. A

Benton, Mo.