The ground is frozen now but in three months, thousands of men and women will be gearing up to kick off the 2003 American Cancer Society's Babe Zaharias Golf Tournament season on luscious green golf courses across Long Island. Last year, the tournaments had a landmark season.

More than $4 million in four years, that's what the American Cancer Society's Babe Zaharias Tournaments have raised in support of breast and prostate cancer research, education, advocacy and patient and family service programs.

The Babe Zaharias Tournaments are golf and tennis fundraisers, which were held at more than 65 public and private clubs across Long Island last spring and summer. This past season marked the 30th anniversary of the tournaments. Winning foursomes of the golf tournaments qualified to participate in the 14th annual Big Babe Regional Golf Championship held Sept. 9, 2002 at the Muttontown Club in East Norwich. Thirty women's and 16 men's teams competed in the Big Babe vying for the chance to represent Long Island in the largest national amateur team golf tournament in the country, the American Cancer Society's National Golf Championship held Oct. 25 and 26 at PGA National, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Big Babe winners represented the Fresh Meadow Country Club in Great Neck, Glen Head and North Shore County Clubs in Glen Head, Women's Golf Club of Lido and the Port Jefferson Country Club.

"The Babe Zaharias Tournaments were successful because of the hard work and dedication of more than 10 thousand volunteers and local sponsors as well as the generosity of our presenting sponsors, JP MorganChase Bank and Aston Martin Jaguar Land Rover North America. Money raised goes to fight breast and prostate cancer and will help many people here on Long Island," said Linda B. Selden, tournament director. "In the past three years, hundreds of thousands of dollars in American Cancer Society research grants have been given to Long Island's prestigious research institutions."

At the luncheon, Christine Lawton, senior vice president of Chase Manhattan Bank spoke of Chase's five-year relationship with the American Cancer Society and said that she's honored to be a part of the Society's fight against cancer. "Being involved in community events like 'The Babe' is what Chase is all about ... the community," said Linda Selden of Chase's involvement.

On May 22, the American Cancer Society and Babe committee members from across Long Island will kick off the 31st season of the Babe Zaharias Tournaments with a breakfast at Old Westbury Golf & Country Club. Participants will bring their success stories from last year, share tips on how to make their event even grander for 2003, and learn how the money they raised last year is benefiting men and women right here on Long Island.

The Babe Zaharias Memorial Tournaments are named in memory of Babe Didrikson Zaharias, the most outstanding female athlete of the 20th century. The outings have become a legacy of support and encouragement in the fight against breast and prostate cancer. For more information on this or other American Cancer Society programs and events contact 1-800-ACS-2345 or www.cancer.org.