Nancy Lopez

Nancy Lopez, of Roswell, N.M., won her second Championship in three years, defeating Lauren Howe, of Colorado Springs, 7 and 6, in the final round at the Columbia-Edgewater Country Club, Portland, Ore. This was the most decisive margin of victory in the final round in the Championship's 26 years.

Miss Lopez and Miss Howe, the 15-year-old daughter of a Colorado Springs club professional, were easily the most consistent players in the field of 91 who started play with 36 holes of stroke play qualifying for 32 places in match play.

Miss Howe won matches with scores of 7 and 6, 4 and 3, and 6 and 4, and before meeting Miss Lopez had only one close match. She won by 2 and 1 over Carolyn Hill, of Placentia, Calif. Miss Hill, who made it into the semi-final round in 1973, was the 1974 medalist with a 151 total.

In her five matches, Miss Lopez was par, par, four under, one under, two under. Elaine Hand, of Douglas, Ga., played the first nine holes of her match with Miss Lopez in eight pars and a birdie, and was 1 down. Miss Lopez won the match, 3 and 2.

In the final round Miss Howe quickly lost two holes by pulling her tee shots into the woods, and Miss Lopez made a birdie on the par-5 fifth hole to go 4 up. Miss Lopez closed out the match on the 13th hole; she had scored 11 pars and two birdies.