When Agatha Haring steps up to the first tee box at Beau Pr\u00E9 Country Club today, you can bet thoughts of her mother, the late Elizabeth Eidt, will come flashing in.

Haring is competing in the Mississippi Women’s Golf Association Tournament today, an event her mother won in 1935 when the tournament was held at Duncan Park.

&uot;It definitely makes this special,&uot; said Haring, who played in her first state tournament last year in Meridian. &uot;I’m so glad they are honoring Mother. And the fact its on our new course makes us all proud. We’re just delighted to have all of the ladies here.&uot;

Eidt was considered a child progidy growing up as a golfer in Natchez. She won the sixth annual tournament at the age of 22, the youngest champion at the time.

Eidt shot an 81 (39 on the front nine) to win the qualifying tournament.

Eidt defeated Mrs. George Ceitz 5-3 and two-time champion Mrs. Otto Hervig 6-5 in her first two competitions.

She then defeated Mrs. Arthur Bruce of Greenwood 8-6 in the semifinals.

Eidt battled Mrs. Robert Mann of Greenville in the championship, winning 8-7.

She shot a 45 over the first nine holes, but still held a one hole lead. She shot a 41 over the final nine holes to win the tournament.

&uot;She could beat half the men at Duncan Park,&uot; Peters said. &uot;She played for blood.&uot;

A trophy will be presented for the first time this year bearing Eidt’s name.

It will be presented to the person who has done the most for the women’s association in the last year, and will be handed out the next 10 years before retiring at Beau Pr\u00E9. Golfers participating in the tournament will vote on this year’s winner.

&uot;That’s certainly a big honor,&uot; Haring said.

Haring and sister Mary Jo Peters not only had a mother show them the game of golf.&160;Their father, the late Bill McKenney, was golf pro at Duncan Park. The family lived at Auburn.

Peters started out playing golf, but took more to tennis. Her son Buddy Peters is a top-notch golfer.

&uot;He got all of his golfing talents from his grandfather and grandmother,&uot; Peters said.

Haring took up golf until she started a family and recently took the game back up last year.

&uot;I haven’t really taken it to heart,&uot; she said. &uot;I just go out there play for fun of it. I’ve always enjoyed playing.&uot;

Haring married well-known golfer Cliff Weeks.

&uot;I had no choice but to play golf,&uot;&160;she said.

Haring said her mother, who died of a heart attack 10 years ago, never talked much about her golf game.

She declined a chance to go pro to raise a family, but boasted of teaming up with a partner to beat a team consisting of golfing great Babe Didrickson Zaharias at a tournament in Vicksburg.

&uot;Our mother was very modest,&uot; Haring said. &uot;She just didn’t like to talk about herself.&uot;

Haring, whose grandfather Clem Eidt was a golf superintendent credits her mother with teaching her the game.

&uot;My father didn’t have the patience, so our mother taught us,&uot; she said.

Haring said she is anxious for the tournament to start.

&uot;The course is so gorgeous and Pat (Dickens) and Bethany (Overton) have worked so hard to get the tournament here,&uot; she said. &uot;It’s going to be a great week.&uot;

Joey Martin is sports editor of The Democrat. He can be reached by calling 446-5172 ext. 232 or at joey.martin@natchezdemocrat.com.

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