Nancy Sebastain is honored with the Bernice Edlund Award, Cissy LeGear and Harriette Meyers are honored with the MWGA Life Membership Award on September 29th at WingHaven CC.

Bernice Edlund Award
This is an annual award, selected by a secret committee, and presented to an individual who has promoted the constitutional aims of the MWGA and set an ideal standard of conduct during the tournament and throughout the year by her devotion and application to golf, her demeanor and appearance on the golf course, her strict observance of the rules and etiquette of the game and demonstrates a high degree of sportsmanship.

Our 2016 recipient discovered golf in the mid 80’s.  At that time, most country club women didn’t work outside the home.  Volunteers ran the golf organizations, tournaments, and women’s golf in general.  Ladies who have done these jobs in the past have slipped back and new younger players no longer have the time or interest in making the same commitments, but our awardee stepped up.   She has a background and profession in education so teaching and learning became second nature.   Having a non-playing background but excited to play in an event, she was really drawn to those who had a hunger for golf and those working to improve their playing ability and learning the game.  Beginning with the MWGA, with help of those like Jayne Watson and Cissy LeGear, she began helping with tournament operations and grew to understand the impact they had on the game by volunteering their time in many different ways.  She admired their work.   Soon,  beginning play with a ladies organization, her passion for the game became solidified;  true satisfaction has been found in seeing those who take part in the events, find good competition and appreciate a well-run tournament, in hopes that the competitors will want to come back and compete again next year.  Making lifelong friendships with women who make a difference in golf both locally and nationally she began to make an impact herself.

Her time and commitment is really extensive.  Her true goals are working hard to preserve the wonderful tradition of the MWGA, the tradition of scholarships being presented to junior players, the excellence of tournament competition, the influence of Women in Golf and the influence of the Woman Golfer on the game of the future.   Considered a “God Send” within inner circles, she’s always just a phone call away. Her knowledge is impressive; she has been attending all events including the Jr Fore State and Women’s Four State. Starting with tournament operations, over time, she graduated to Junior Director and Chairman; worked on Scholarship and Tournament Committees; has been Vice President and is current President of your MWGA…since 2011.  She is now serving on the USGA Regional Affairs Committee; and also holds friendships with the international Ladies Golf Union and supports and enjoys the University of Missouri Lady Tigers Golfers.

Being married to a known and respected PGA professional, Steve, doesn’t hurt either.  She can thank him for peaking her interest in Jr. Golf.  Need I say more?? Please welcome your 2016 Bernice Edlund Awardee…….Nancy Sebastian

Life Membership Awards
Harriette Myers
Honorary Life Membership is the highest award Missouri Women’s Golf Association can present. It has been the tradition for the President of the Women’s Missouri Golf Association (WMGA  and Missouri Women’s Golf Association (MWGA) to nominate members who have given so much to the Association as well as to golf over a period of many years, the privilege of this award.

Honorary Life Membership is a very special honor that is quietly voted upon by the Board of Directors, then announced and presented at a tournament, hopefully as a total surprise.  Honorary Life members shall have the right to all privileges of the association without payment of membership dues or tournament entry fees.  A gold membership card is given to Honorary Life members.

This dedicated long time member has given so much of her time, talent and energy to this association through promoting the association at her club and throughout the state especially in southeast Missouri.  She is a championship golfer having played in USGA, MWGA and various other championships for years.  She has been club champion at Dalhousie Golf Club and is a Champion of various tournaments known widely throughout Southeast Missouri.

Years ago she shared a conversation with Jayne Watson and offered her help to the association if the need became available.  She ultimately became our new Treasurer and financial advisor.   Her financial insight and expertise has certainly helped the association move forward.

Her service to the association as well as the game of golf especially with Juniors development at Dalhousie Golf Club is greatly appreciated and she is one of the game’s greatest ambassadors.  She was our Honorary Captain at the USGA Team competition in 2015 hosted at Dalhousie Golf Club, which is her home club.  Congratulations Harriette Myers!

Cissy LeGear
As stated in the bylaws of the Missouri Women’s Golf Association, Honorary Life membership consists of women elected by the Board of Directors for their past devotion to the Association and their contribution to golf.

This lady has played championship caliber golf for years having been club champion numerous times at her home club.  She has served the game and association with enthusiasm, interest and true dedication.  She has served as Rules Director for Missouri Women’s Golf Association as well as a USGA Rules Official at numerous events and qualifiers, has been chairman of the USGA Public Links Championship.  She has been involved with St. Louis District Golf Association, Metropolitan Golf Association and the Evans Scholar program to name a few.  She was honored by Missouri Women’s Golf Association in 2008 with the prestigious Bernice Edlund award.

As Rules Director/Tournament Director, Cissy LeGear helped bring our tournament delivery to a new level.  She has helped women’s golf grow and move forward molding young players to learn the rules and to respect the game.  Cissy’s husband Dan is a USGA Rules Official and has been a source of inspiration which led to her involvement and commitment of the game and rules of golf.

As a veteran member of the Missouri Women’s Golf Association, she was instrumental in the movement to align services with the Missouri Golf Association.  Cissy LeGear and her husband Dan helped physically move our association treasures to Jefferson City.  The next day she was on the course running an association tournament.

It is my pleasure to present the Honorary Life Membership to a very special lady who exemplifies meritorious service to the game of golf and Missouri Women’s Golf Association as a volunteer and is so deserving of this great recognition.  Congratulations Cissy LeGear!