Ladies golf tournament returns

RITZVILLE – Forty women from all over Eastern Washington braved five hours of stifling heat to test their golfing skills at the local "Puttin' on the Ritz" ladies golf tournament Monday, Aug. 13.

According to coordinator Ronna Galbreath, the first such tournament was in 2005. It's continued nearly every year since, until COVID-19 mandates shuttered the event in 2020.

It finally returned this year, Galbreath said.

In golfing terms, the tournament was a two-person "best ball" event using handicaps for scoring. It was set up in two flights. The better players competed in the first flight. Golfers with higher handicaps played in the second flight.

Erin Harris and Cathy Jones of Quincy took top honors in the first flight. Tying for second place were Mary Owen and Beth Habib of Cle Elum and local golfer Ronna Galbreath and her daughter, Dona Forrester.

In the second flight, first-place honors went to Susan Webley and Dawn Watts of Spokane. Velma Henry and Debbie Whitman of Ellensburg finished in second-place.

Galbreath noted that donations for the event included a salad bar luncheon in the clubhouse.

"We had many compliments from out-of-town ladies about how well the golf course was maintained," Galbreath said. "Probably half of them had not golfed here before. They stayed in our hotels, ate in our restaurants, and supported our community."