Lisa Ferrero

Lisa Ferrero, 17, of Lodi, Calif., won four of the first five holes from Ina Kim, 16, of Encino, Calif., and hung on to win the final match at the U.S. Girls' Junior Championship at the Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, in North Plains, Ore., 3 and 1.

Ferrero, who plays No. 1 on the boys high school golf team, didn't trail in the last 85 holes over her final four matches. She was the equivalent of 1 under par and had just 23 putts in the final.

Kim also was having a good run before meeting Ferrero. She led from the 11th hole on in each of her previous five matches.

"It feels great!," said Ferrero of her win. "I tried to establish myself early in my matches and played well on the front nine. Then I just hung on. I knew a par would eventually work out for me." Ferrero also played high school basketball. She was the team's leading scorer as a junior, with a single game high of 22 points.

The finalists earn exemptions for the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship.

Kim rallied from six holes down through 11 holes to birdie four of the next five front close range, cutting Ferrero's lead to just 2 holes. Ferrero then closed the match with a birdie from six feet on the par 3 17th hole.

"I just couldn't hit the ball on the front nine;" said Kim. "I just sort of handed it to her. I was playing terrible. To be 6 down is embarrassing. I thought to myself, 'If I lose 6-down, I am going to be the biggest choker ever.' "

Along the way, Ferrero knocked out reigning U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links champion Catherine Cartwright of Bonita Springs, Fla., in the third round. She edged Mallory Code of Tampa, Fla., in her quarterfinal match, 2 up. She won her semifinal match with yet another early start, winning three of the first five holes on her way to defeating Angela Won of Irvine, Calif., 4 and 2.

"I guess I like match play," said Ferrero after one of her earlier matches. "If you have a bad hole, it doesn't ruin your whole day."

Kim built a 4-up lead through 10 holes and held on to beat Candy Herrera of Apple Valley, Calif., in her quarterfinal match, 4 and 2. She won three of the final four holes to defeat Mexican Junior National champion Violeta Retamoza in her semifinal match.