No. Cal Women's Match Play: Cowan wins sixth
-- staff photo
NOVATO, Calif. (Aug 18, 2011) -- Lynne Cowan has had quite a year. In the spring she won the WGANC Champion of Champions and the 54- hole Stroke Play. But to win the trifecta, the grand slam of golf in Northern California, she had to win the Match Play as well.
On Thursday the 36-hole finals of the four round match play event was contested at Marin Country Club. Cowan, who plays out of Half Moon Bay, pulled it off with a 7 & 6 victory over veteran player, Sally Tomlinson of Claremont Country Club.
Cowan first met Tomlinson in a match at the San Francisco City in the late 80's. Tomlinson's deadly short game out matched Cowan's distance off the tee and resulted in a win in sudden death for Tomlinson.
"I've never forgotten that match and it taught me how important a good short game is." Cowan said.
"I've known Sally for almost 25 years and I know to respect her game. Last year Sally asked me to be on the committee for the California Women's Amateur Championship, which she is chair. I gladly accepted. She has been a part of the history of golf in California and knew Helen Lengfield who started WGANC and Pacific Women's Golf Assoc., the two women's golf associations in Northern California. I'm honored to be a part of women's golf history by serving on the committee."
Cowan's road to victory started with a 5 & 3 win over Lisa Mizono of Olympic Club in the first match. The second match was against Juvy Timan of Pasatiempo and was a 7 & 6 victory. The semi-final match-up was against the medalist, Teri Gangi-Helder of La Rinconada CC, and was the closest match at 2 & 1.
The records are being checked but it seems that Cowan may be the first player to win all three majors in the same year. With this win she has won 24 association events; 11- Champion of Champions, 4- Stroke Plays, 6- No. Cal Match Plays and 3 Calif. Match Plays.
Next on Cowan's schedule is the USGA Women's Mid-Am qualifier next week. If she qualifies she will travel to Virginia Beach, VA for the championship in September. After that is the USGA State Team Championship in Savannah in early October. Cowan qualified for the three member team in July at the California Women's Championship along with Joan Higgins, the 2008 Women's Mid-Am Champion, and Sharon Park the two-time winner of the Calif Women's Championship.
In the other flights Grace Suk of Fountaingrove GC won the first flight in a 6 & 5 victory over Sharon McMicking of Santa Rosa CC.
The second flight was a battle between Marin CC members. Nancy Curtis was the victor with a 3 & 2 win over Vicky Stinnett.
- Editor's Note: The entire team at amateurgolf.com congratulates Lynne on the victory and her continued solid play. In addition to juggling family life, competitive amateur golf, and much more, Lynne is an important member of the amaturgolf.com Content Team. Way to go!