Kay Cockerill

Kay Cockerill of Los Gatos, California, successfully defended her U.S. Women's Amateur title, defeating Tracy Kerdyk of Coral Gables, Florida, the 1987 Women's APL champion, 3 and 2, at the Rhode Island Country Club in Barrington.

She became the first to win consecutive Women's Amateurs since Juli Inkster won the championship in 1980-81-82.

Kerdyk and Michiko Hattori of Nagoya, Japan, shared medalist honors at three over-par 141, one stroke ahead of Susan Ginter of Appleton, Wisconsin. It was Hattori's third consecutive qualifying medal in this championship. She was eliminated by Carol Semple Thompson in the third round, 4 and 3.

Cockerill defeated Thompson in the quarterfinals, then ousted Nanci Bowen of Tifton, Georgia, 3 and 1, to reach the final. Kerdyk was extended to 22 holes by Kim Saiki of Redwood City, California, in the third round, then downed Leslie Shannon and Pat Milton to earn her trip to the final.

Cockerill won the first three holes of the final, but Kerdyk played the sixth through the ninth in two under par and made the turn 1 up Cockerill birdied the 12th to even the match and took the lead with a par at the 13th. She won the 15th, 16th and 17th, played in a driving rain, and was 4 up after the morning round.

Play was suspended after Cockerill and Kerdyk had played their approaches to the 19th green. Play was resumed the following day. Cockerill sank a 35-foot putt at the 19th to go 5 up. Kerdyk reduced the lead to four holes on three occasions and got it to three at the 31st. Cockerill parred the lost three holes to win the match.

The USGA accepted 359 entries for the championship.