Rendleman, Sentel collect second straight Lassies golf title

It seems Brenda Rendleman and Roberta Sentel have found a home away from home.

The Illinois natives teamed up to win their second straight Lassies Classic championship, firing an 8-under 63 in the second round and claiming a five-stroke victory in the two-lady scramble on Thursday at Cape Girardeau Country Club.

Rendleman and Sentel entered the day in a tie atop the leader board with two-time champions Sheree Simmons and Sissy Donahue. The two teams, who each carded a 9-under 62 in the first round, started on the back nine, but the victors turned a one-stroke lead into a five-stroke lead over the final nine holes.

"We play together a lot, and we sort of have the same type of game," said Rendleman, who credited her teammate for leading the way down the stretch. "We're very comfortable with one another and our shots that we hit."

Rendleman and Sentel carded a two-round total of 125, finishing at 17-under. They made their move on the fourth hole where Rendleman's chip shot set up an easy birdie putt that gave the duo a two-stroke advantage.

Sentel followed it up by putting together three impressive shots on No. 5, including a 6-foot birdie putt, to put the team ahead by three strokes.

"We ham and egged it all day," Rendleman said. "We just kept each other in play and were patient with the putting because it wasn't coming at first."

Donahue knocked down a 9-foot putt to save par on No. 5 before Simmons pressured the leaders on No. 6 with a 9-foot putt of her own for birdie. Sentel missed her birdie putt from 5 feet out, but Rendleman converted to keep the lead at three strokes with three holes to play.

"They played well both days," Simmons said about Rendleman and Sentel. "... I can't take anything away from them. They're a good team."

The champions wrapped up the 36-hole tournament with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 8 and 9. They finished with 17 birdies and have yet to record a bogey in two appearances at the Lassies Classic.

"The fairways were pretty good, but the greens were a little shaky," Rendleman said. "They were a lot slower than what we're normally used to here. Normally they're pretty slick. They roll out pretty good. I think they've got a little stress on them right now."

Simmons and Donahue carded a 12-under 130 to finish tied for second with Jo Billings and Indiana Jones. The 11-time champion pairing of Harriette Myers and Diana Fowler shot a 10-under 132 to finish tied for fourth with Vicki Long and Janice Hoffman, while Sheila Crosson and Heather Wegge placed sixth with a 6-under 136.

The luxury of cloud cover was rarely on hand during Thursday's final round, as golfers battled scorching temperatures throughout the day.

The course was also unforgiving, with greens that weren't as receptive as they were Wednesday.

"Yesterday was just easier," said Donahue, a native of Cape. "There was nothing easy about today."

Eighty-three team competed in this year's tournament, and Rendleman was complimentary of the organizers.

"They run it really well, great players -- I love the people we play with," she said. "It's good competition. ... It makes you be a little more competitive and pay a little more attention to everything you do."

The Lassies Classic, which wrapped up its 38th edition Thursday, was started by Marion Miles-Edwards, who was inspired to create the tournament after taking a trip to Scotland in 1978 when she played the Old Course at St. Andrews with her late-husband, Harvey. Miles-Edwards died in May at the age of 98.

"This year we've had a lower attendance, but I think the heat had something to do with it," said Priscilla Kirby, who co-chaired the tournament alongside Sheryl Bollinger. "Outside of that, I think everyone had a good time."