Dorothy Delasin

Dorothy Delasin, an 18-year-old former U.S. Girl's Junior champion from Daly City, Calif., added the 1999 United States Women's Amateur Championship to her titles when she defeated Jimin Kang, 19, of Edmonds, Wash., 4 and 3, at Biltmore Forest Country Club in Asheville, N.C.

With the usual match play concessions, Delasin was seven under par for the 33 holes of the match on the 6,202-yard, par 72 course. Delasin was slightly longer off the tee than Kang and while Kang hit precise irons to the greens, so did Delasin, racking up 10 birdies. Delasin's putting, particularly in the eight-to-15-foot range, was extraordinary.

After Kang and Delasin shook hands, Delasin's father Sonny, who was also her caddie, swept her into his arms and lifted her into the air.

"It doesn't get any better than this," said Dorothy. "This is like winning the lottery. I'm just happy. I can't explain it, you've just got to trust me on that."

With the victory, Delasin joined an elite group of players to have won the U.S. Girl's Junior, which she captured in 1996, and the U.S. Women's Amateur. Only four - Pat Lesser, JoAnne Gunderson Carner, Pat Hurst, and Kelli Kuehne - have matched that accomplishment.

Delasin also became the first American-born winner since 1996. Kang lives in Washington State, but is a Korean citizen.

Kang and Delasin had one previous match-play encounter. Delasin won the match in the first round of the 1996 Girl's Junior.

In just four years, Delasin established a fine record in USGA championships. She was 15 years old when she won the 1996 Girls' Junior, defeating Grace Park, 17, in the final, 5 and 4. In 1998, she fired 76-68 at Merion Golf Club to win medalist honors at the Girls' Junior. In 1999, she was a semifinalist in the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links.

On her way to the Women's Amateur final, Delasin defeated two U.S. Curtis Cup players, Virginia Derby Grimes in the second round and heavily-favored Kellee Booth in the semifinals.

Natalie Gulbis, 16, Citrus Heights, Calif., established 1 36-hole qualifying record with a score of 71-66-137. She broke the previous record, established by Kellee Booth in 1998, by one stroke and tied Booth's 1998 single-round record of 66.

The 1999 Women's Amateur marked Booth's final amateur competition. A member of three United States Curtis Cup teams and two Women's World Amateur Teams, Booth, 23 of Coto de Caza, Calif., announced she was turning professional.

The 1999 U.S. Women's Amateur set a record with 676 entries. Entries for the championship have increased every year since 1989.