GIANT EAGLE LPGA CLASSIC 12th annual tourney set at Squaw Creek

Action kicks off Monday with several amateur events.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
VIENNA -- For the 12th straight year, the Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour (LPGA) will come into the Mahoning Valley to take part in the Giant Eagle LPGA Classic beginning Monday at Squaw Creek Country Club.
This event, which began in 1990 as the Phar-Mor in Youngstown Classic also held at Squaw Creek, is one of the most popular stops on the LPGA Tour.
Thousands of fans Northeastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania have helped make this event successful and helped to raise nearly $2.5 million for more than 80 local children's and educational charities.
First events: The action begins Monday morning at Squaw Creek with The Vindicator Pro-Am tournament.
Teams of amateur golfers will be paired with an LPGA professional in three different divisions, men, women and mixed competition.
Also on Monday will be the Trumbull Memorial Hospital physically challenged and seniors golf clinic and the Eddie DeBartolo Junior Golf Clinic.
The action continues Tuesday through Thursday with other amateur and professional events, including the Schwebel's long drive contest and the Butler Wick Corporation celebrity shootout on Tuesday.
The Cellular One pro-am is set for Wednesday and Thursday.
The professionals take over from there as the Giant Eagle Classic gets under way on Friday and runs through Sunday.
Delasin defends: Dorothy Delasin, a California native, is the defending champion. She won last year's tournament as a 19-year-old rookie, her first and only LPGA Tour victory.
Squaw Creek Country Club will be the host for this tournament at least through the year 2004.
All three rounds of the tournament will be televised live over ESPN2.