Alexa Stirling

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

By 1921, the bright spotlight in women’s golf was directed upon the triple crown amateur champion, Alexa Stirling from East Lake. As North American champion (U.S. and Canadian titles), she was ready to take her game to the world stage provided by the British Ladies Amateur Championship. That prestigious title had never before been carried off by an American. Alexa’s prospects attracted keen interest both in America and Britain. So Alexa accompanied Americans Marion Hollins, Edith Cummings, Mabel Stringer and Louise Elkins to the Turnberry Hotel and Links. The British economy was in tatters from the war and from economic upheaval caused by a paralyzing coal miners’ strike. Stringer told author Rhonda Glenn, “We were reminded of its existence ever and again by the appearance of sad, hungry-looking women down by the links, who rattled collecting boxes under our noses and asked in hoarse tones for money for food for the ‘wee bairns.’” The gallery was substantial and comprised in equal measure of all classes of British enthusiasts. Unwittingly, Alexa was faced with a triple threat. First, was the unfamiliar rugged Scottish links course which appeared as a moonscape along the Firth of Clyde. Next, were the fickle weather conditions that present the player with all four seasons in the course of a single round of golf. Last, but perhaps most important, Cecil Leitch was her first tenacious adversary who was not unlike a hare thrown into the briar patch of the elements. To say that the match was played under difficult

conditions does little justice to the truth. It was not a fresh breeze that blew that day but a gale. The Scots have a saying: “You know the wind is blowing when the sheep are holding onto the heather with their teeth.” These players would have done well to do the same. Sheets of rain slammed into the contestants, who struggled mightily. Huddled on the fourth tee, Alexa was three down to Cecil. Alexa likely wondered if such matches were ever called off due to the unplayability of the course. But never did she waver. Instead, Alexa fought bravely back hole by hole until she miraculously squared the match on the 10th hole. Although she eventually

succumbed to Cecil and lost the match, Alexa gained the admiration of the Empire. Eyewitness Stringer told Rhonda Glenn, “The American girl fought magnificently against the heavy odds and won all our hearts by her pluck and true sportsmanship.” Upon her return home from the disappointment at Turnberry, Alexa embarked on a quest for her historic fourth straight national women’s championship. Some of the other favorites lost in the early rounds, including Glenna Collett and Cecil Leitch. In the finals, Alexa faced Marion Hollins who had just spent the prior week absorbing lessons from Alex Smith, East Lake’s first professional and brother-in-law of Stewart Maiden. Hollins would later organize the spectacular Cypress Point Club and Pasatiempo in California. She had been defeated by Alexa in the second round of the 1919 championship. Since that time, however, Marion had developed a powerful swing and was one of the first ladies to exhibit the virtues of driving prodigious distances from the tee. Once again, Alexa found herself deep in the well at the outset of the match. In the 36-hole finals, Marion was 4 up after 18 holes. Then, during the lunch break, a tremendous storm erupted that was reminiscent of Turnberry. Alexa’s chances looked bleak.

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