New Madrid duo rallies for seventh Lassies Classic title

~ Diane Fowler and Harriette Myers overcame a five-shot deficit over the final nine holes.

It was quite a battle, but Diane Fowler and Harriette Myers once again reign as queens of the Lassies Classic.

Fowler and Myers rallied from a five-stroke deficit over the final nine holes Thursday to edge Vickie Long and Janice Hoffman in the 28th annual event at Cape Girardeau Country Club.

"It didn't look good," Myers said. "I didn't think we had a chance."

Added Fowler, "They were so hot."

But once Fowler and Myers heated up on the sweltering day, there was no stopping them, as they captured their seventh title in the two-woman scramble tournament.

Fowler and Myers, who are both from New Madrid -- although Myers plays out of Dalhousie Golf Club in Cape Girardeau -- had won their most recent championship in 2004, but last year they lost out in a playoff.

"That was motivation for us this year. Absolutely," Myers said.

Fowler and Myers finished at 15-under-par 127 for 36 holes, while Long and Hoffman wound up one stroke behind. The teams ended Wednesday's opening 18 holes tied at 8-under 63.

Long and Hoffman came out firing Thursday to take command at the turn. But Fowler and Myers shot 6-under on the back nine while Long and Hoffman managed just even par.

"We just started firing at the pins," Myers said.

Said Fowler, "We had no choice, the way they were playing."

Fowler and Myers made an early push on the back nine, but a missed birdie putt on No. 14 appeared to set them back.

"After that, I said we had to birdie the last four holes," Myers said. "We birdied three of the last four, and they bogeyed one."

The squads were deadlocked heading to No. 18. Myers knocked a shot, from about 50 yards out, within two feet of the hole and Fowler completed the birdie. Long and Hoffman settled for par.

Long and Hoffman are also former Lassies Classic champions, but when they fell short Thursday, there was a debt to pay.

Explained Fowler: "We all just happened to be standing under a tree {before Thursday's round}. I said remember how we used to climb trees when we were younger? Then I said the loser has to climb the tree."

Hoffman paid up almost immediately after the tournament ended, although Long never did attempt to navigate the tree.

"She got up there pretty good," said a laughing Myers.

Such is the tone of the event that draws entrants from Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee. While there is considerable intense competition, there is also plenty of fun and camaraderie.

"We have a great time here. They put on a nice show," Fowler said. "It's very competitive, but everybody has fun. We really enjoy it."

The tournament, organized by the country club's Women's Golf Association, once again drew a full field of 92 teams. There is always a waiting list of entrants.

"Things went real well, despite the heat," tournament chair Deb Mealy said. "We had some great golf and everybody had a great time."

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LASSIES CLASSIC RESULTS

Championship Flight

1. Harriette Myers/Diane Fowler -- 127

2. Janice Hoffman/Vickie Long -- 128

3. Betty Belote/Jo Billings -- 133

4. Sissy Burnett/Sherre Simmons -- 135

AA Flight

1. (tie) Anita Jo Brogden/Johnson -- 142

Shirley Bailey/Cynthia Ward -- 142

3. (tie) Sandy Barclay/Jan Cryder -- 143

Deb Mealy/Kathy Morris -- 143

5. Stephanie Augspurger/Sharon McCune -- 144

6. Jane Kirk/Alice Temm -- 145

A Flight

1. Mary Jane Tyler/Melissa Hicks -- 143

2. Mary Lee Hibbits/Reba Mell -- 146

3. Annie Crowley/Dorris Stepp -- 148

4. Joella Jones/Virginia Watkins -- 149

5. (tie) Helen Ezzell/Janie Wheeler -- 150

Deanna Estes/Madge Ridings -- 150

Luanne Kiefner/Carol Largent -- 150

Joan Chilton/Nancy Kohl -- 150

Joan Harris/Joann Taylor -- 150

B Flight

1. (tie) Lisa Beussink/Carol Weinrich -- 152

2. Jackie Beckmann/Kim Johnson -- 152

3. (tie) Yvonne Cross/Jan Eveans -- 154

Mary Jane Eftink/Ann Fowler -- 154

Diana King/Nancy Rehkopf -- 154

6. Kate Ackerman/Dee Fry -- 156

7. Carolyn Blechle/Clara Schafer -- 157

C Flight

1. Charlene Brown/Ann Dollahide -- 158

Jill Halbert/Vickie McKinney -- 158

3. Mary Gardiner/Susan Vickery -- 159

4. (tie) Glen May/Linda Williams -- 160

Linda Byrd/Joyce Spoo -- 160

6. (tie) Judy Horrell/Jeri Traser -- 162

Mary Alice Regenhardt/Linda Tewis -- 162

8. Wanda Rice/Connie Westbrook -- 164

D Flight

1. Betty Michel/Shirley Moore -- 166

2. (tie) Carol Barnes/Marilyn Myles -- 169

Enid Harris/Jackie Piskalic -- 169

4. Pamela Rose/La Donna Stolzle -- 171

5. Brenda Vandenbrook/Bobbie Woodard -- 173

Closest to pin (No. 2) -- Nancy Johns (morning), Dixie Jones (afternoon)

Closest to pin on second shot (No. 3) -- Mary Lee Hibbits (morning), Sandy Barclay (afternoon)

Closest to pin (No. 6) -- Mary Godwin (morning), Jo Billings (afternoon)

Closest to pin (No. 8) -- Yvette Wattigney (morning), Sharon McCune (afternoon)

Closest to pin (No. 11) -- Nancy Johns (morning), Harriette Myers (afternoon)

Closest to pin (No. 13) -- Laurel Adkisson (morning), La Donna Stolzle (afternoon)

Closest to pin (No. 16) -- Joyce Kuntze (morning), Sharon McCune (afternoon)

Closest to line (No. 15) -- Matilda Cain (morning), Pamela Rose (afternoon)

Longest putt (No. 4) -- Mary Lee Hibbits (morning), Marie Ballard (afternoon)

Longest drive in fairway (No. 9) -- Barb Johnson (morning), Lisa Beussink (afternoon)

Longest putt (No. 18) -- Brenda Lessel (morning), Ann Fowler (afternoon)