-- staff photo

Cowan, who won the event in 1999 and the last two years, lead by 5 after the first two rounds played at Salinas Golf & Country Club in Salinas and Carmel Valley Ranch in Carmel Valley. Cowan shot a 1-over 73 and an even-par 71.

The closest challenger, Pat Cornett of Mill Valley, shot 74-75 the first two rounds but came on strong at Monterey Peninsula firing a final round 69. Cornett's superb putting on the slick greens left her at even par 36 on the front nine with one birdie and one bogey, but birdies at 10, 12 and 18 gave her a 3-under par 33 on the back nine.

In the final round Cowan shot a one-under 71 that included two birdies on the front nine at 3 and 4. At the turn there was a six stroke gap between the two. The margin was down to four after Cowan missed the green on the par-3 number 10 and failed to get up and down and Cornett followed up with an 8-foot birdie.

"I knew where we were after nine, but after that I just concentrated on fairways and greens and tried not make any big mistakes. I knew Pat was making ground and I didn't want to know exactly where we stood. I had to make a few clutch putts coming in the last few holes because of some misjudged approaches, but I managed a birdie at 17 so I felt fairly comfortable."

Cornett hit a great bump and run shot at the short par five finishing hole that put her within 3 feet. Cowan missed her chip to the back pin placement giving her more than 25 feet for the birdie attempt. She misread the break and left herself with a slick downhill 5 footer.

"I had to grind that one out and make the putt knowing that Pat wouldn't miss the short one. I didn't want another 2 stroke swing."

Cowan rolled it in for the par. Cornett followed with her fourth birdie of the round. Cowan finished up at even-par 215 for the three rounds.

Marianne Towersey, a member at Monterey Peninsula, took third low gross with a final round 72 to finish the tournament at 228. Fourth went to Eva Monisteri of Half Moon Bay with a 232.

Coming off a win two weeks prior at the WGANC Champion of Champions, Cowan plans to go for the third major and will compete in the WGANC Match Play Championship in August to be played at Marin County Club.

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