Joplin takes opening lead in Horton Smith matches

June 30, 2009 12:50 am

— By Anvil Welch
awelch@joplinglobe.com
CARTHAGE, Mo. — Joplin co-captain Sue Browning had words of caution after Monday’s opening doubles effort by her team against Springfield in the annual Horton Smith Cup Matches.
Joplin will take a lead of 81/2-31/2 into today’s singles competition at Twin Hills Golf and Country Club in Joplin.
Said Browning: “We’re very pleased with today But we know there are 24 points available tomorrow. We have to play tough and well to bring back the trophy.”
Said Springfield captain Lorene Brill: “We’re going to hope. Absolutely, we have hope. We have a good group. I wouldn’t be surprised if we came back.”
Browning said that Springfield, which has a lopsided overall advantage in the series, will be seeking its third win in a row since the annual event was dropped to one team.
Joplin pulled out several close decisions in the 90 degrees — softened by frequent gentle breezes — on Carthage Golf Course.
“Our young girls played very well,” Leigh Ann Hackney, a veteran Joplin member, said.
Hackney and Raine Lounis, coming off her freshman season at Drury University in Springfield, defeated Charlotte Ashcraft and Margaret Alumno 1-up.
Missy Little, Joplin city champion, and Natalie Bird, who’ll be a freshman at Missouri Western in St. Joseph, beat Heidi Rice and Tara Fuchs 2 and 1.
Plus, Joplin pairs Browning-Tammy Thomas and Beth Parmley-Rhonda Hartley defeated Ann Fuchs-Vicki Franks and Katie McCroskey-Sharon Matti, respectively, 2-up and 2 and 1.
Other Joplin wins were by Jill West and Deb McFarland, 5 and 4 over Flora Mitchell and Myrna White; Gingy Laas and Judy Magner, 4 and 3 over Stephanie Henderson and Diane Peterson; Phyllis Sanders and Anne Ranz, 7 and 6 over Nancy White-Geri Schlegel, and Sue Taylor and Billie Dahnke, 4 and 3 over Laura Pendergraft and Kathy Dake.
Laas said she was making first appearance for Joplin in more than 20 years.
Joplin co-captain Pam Borland and Esther Alumbaugh halved their match with Mary Skiles and Sharon Barefield.
Joplin losses included two 1-up decisions. Jessica Dillard and Pat Myers clipped Rosemary Grant and Peggy Hinde and Linda Hyde-Nancy Luxton beat Jennifer Fagan and Kristie Crossland.
Springfield’s Connie Thiede and Carla Chaney beat Nancy Isaac and Jo Poyzer 3 and 1.
Hinde and Grant lost despite Hinde’s fourth career hole-in-one on the 107-yard 12th hole with a 9-iron.
“We were down by three strokes at the turn and were able to tie it,” Hinde said. “So, that helped us get back into it. But we lost the match.”

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