Jamille Jose

Jamille Jose, 15, of Carmichael, California, defeated Debbie Parks of Phoenix, Arizona, 5 and 4, in the final at Golden Valley (Minnesota) Country Club.

Brandie Burton of Rialto, California, who two weeks earlier was one of two amateurs to make the 36-hole cut at the U.S. Women's Open, earned the qualifying medal with a 36-hole total of 141, three under par. The second qualifying round was interrupted by severe thunderstorms and a tornado warning.

Burton was eliminated in the quarterfinal round by Elizabeth Bowman of Bonita, California, 2 and 1. Parks, two down to Bowman with three to play in the semifinals, rallied to win on the 19th hole. Jose eliminated Vicki Goetze of Hull, Georgia, 3 and 2, in the other semifinal match to earn her place in the final.

In the final, Parks won the first hole with a par, only to lose to a par by Jose at the second hole. Parks birdied the fourth to regain the lead. Still one down at the sixth, Jose took advantage of four consecutive bogeys by Parks, winning all four holes, to go 3 up. She extended her lead to 4 up with a birdie at the 10th.

After Parks pulled to within three by birdieing the par-3 11th, Jose won the 12th with a par to regain her advantage. Jose closed out the match by sinking a four-foot birdie putt at the 14th. The USGA accepted 207 entries for the championship.