1997

Carol Semple Thompson, 48, of Sewickley, Pa., defeated Leslie Shannon, 49, of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., 2 and 1, to win the 11th U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur Championship at the 5,984-yard, par-72, Atlantic City Country Club.

Thompson, a two-time winner of this national championship for women age 25 or older, closed the match on the par-3, 161-yard 17th when Shannon failed to convert a 12-foot putt to save par.

"Amazing," said the 1973 U.S. Women's Amateur champion. "I never thought I would win."

Shannon, a first-time finalist in a national championship, was one under par at the turn before carding three bogeys and two double bogeys on the back side.

"I was disappointed for only nine holes this week," said Shannon. "That's it. But I am sure when I look back, I will be very pleased I made the finals."

Thompson was 1 up through 15 holes, before the match was all but decided after the par-4, 348-yard 16th.

"It looked like a good opportunity for Leslie to win the hole and go back to even," said Thompson, who found trouble after her second shot landed in the scrub just short and right of the green. "I was just hoping to halve the hole. It was such a gift that she hit it into the water."

Shannon attempted to hit an 8-iron 135 yards, but came off of her second shot enough to find a small canal in front of the green.

"I thought the door was open," said the three-time Curtis Cup Team member. "All I had to do was hit the green. I was in a good situation to win the hole. As it was, she hit a good third shot and that was it."

A member of the USGA Executive Committee, Thompson has won three national titles, competed for a record-nine U.S. Curtis Cup teams, and has 16 Pennsylvania state amateur titles to her credit.

"I am overwhelmed," she concluded. "Really."