FALMOUTH – One of the unique aspects of the Hannaford Community Challenge of the Legends Tour was that kids in the First Tee program got to play with the women golfers in Saturday’s opening round.

There were two LPGA Legends players and one First Tee golfer in each group. Talk about something to remember for a long time, this was it. The First Tee program is one of the tournament’s charities.

“It was a really great honor to be able to play,” said Spencer Snowe, 14, of Portland.

Snowe is part of the First Tee program at Riverside Golf Course in Portland.

“The players gave us some great feedback and tips,” said Snowe. “It was really helpful.”

Snowe played with Legends golfers Nancy Scranton and Val Skinner.

At the first hole, there was a good gallery watching the opening tee shots.

“I was nervous,” said Spencer. “You really have to block out everyone else and focus on the shot. After that I was fine.”

Snowe will be a freshman at Cheverus in the fall and hopes to be a member of the golf team.

ANNOUNCING THE players’ names on the first tee was Dave Cook, a veteran starter for the Legends Tour and other professional tournaments.

Cook, who summers in the Belgrade Lakes region, has worked several Legends Tour tournaments. He will be the starter at the PGA’s Deutsche Bank tournament in September at TPC Boston in Norton, Mass., for the 10th straight year.

Cook enjoys doing Legends tournaments and the players are appreciative. Several of the players greeted him warmly.

“There are a lot of great ladies on the Legends Tour,” said Cook. “They’re talented and gracious.”

Cook will be the public-address announcer for a Red Sox game at Fenway Park on July 7. The opponent will be the New York Yankees.

Cook lives in Concord, Mass. His idol as an announcer? The late Bob Sheppard, who worked at Yankee Stadium for over 50 years, well into his 90s.

FALMOUTH NATIVE Andy Lano II, a longtime caddie on the PGA Tour, is caddying for Sherri Steinhauer in the tournament. Lano caddied for Kenny Perry and Jim Carter for a combined 20 years on the PGA Tour. He has also caddied for Tom Watson, Michelle Wie and others.

Lano no longer caddies on the PGA Tour, saying 25 years was enough. He lives in Dallas with his wife and works in sales.

Lano got to know Steinhauer through his caddie stint with Perry. Perry and Steinhauer were a team in the former J.C. Penney Classic, which matched PGA and LPGA players.

Lano called Steinhauer and offered his services for the tournament, figuring he already knew the course.

THE BELLY PUTTER and a longer version are common on the men’s Champions Tour. And more and more golfers are using them on the regular PGA Tour. But they don’t seem to be popular with the senior women competing in the Hannaford Community Challenge.

The only two who were using belly putters Saturday in a quick check were Lori West and Kitty Young Robyn. Both birdied the challenging par-4 18th after they hit it close.

Staff Writer Tom Chard can be contacted at 791-6419 or at:

tchard@pressherald.com

Twitter: TomChardPPH

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