Alexa Stirling

A L E X A S T I R L I NG | V I

V I . Q U E E N O F T H E L I N K S WRITTEN AND PERMISSION GRANTED BY: SIDNEY MATTHEW Champions of Eastlake, Chapter 5

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It is only mildly surprising to discover that when the Kingdom of Golf was established at East Lake after the turn of the century, the reigning monarch was a Queen and not the complementary gender. In this small way, history repeated itself. After all, Mary Queen of Scots learned golf at the age of seven in France where her clubs were carried by “cadets.” They are now called caddies. As Queen of Scotland, Mary played her golf at St. Andrews where she enjoyed some of her happiest days. Three centuries later and 3,000 miles away, another Queen reigned no less majestically. The Queen of the Links at East Lake was Alexa Stirling – a most charming, complex, convivial lass who radiated beauty from within and without. Like Queen Mary, Alexa’s ascension to the throne of golf began at an early age. Her naturally patient and precocious disposition easily lent itself to the gauntlet of grooming needed to mold a champion. She became the blessed quintessential vessel of winsomeness that was spilled out for those around her and after her to enjoy. For these reasons, there is a paucity of debate that the quantity and quality of Alexa’s contributions to East Lake rival those of the great Jones in importance.

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