Alissan Herron

Alissa Herron, 26, of Minneapolis, Minn., won the 1999 United States Women's Mid-Amateur Championship by defeating Leland Beckel, 33, of Bethesda, Md., 1 up, in the 18-hole final at the 6,129-yard, par 72 Cherokee Town & Country Club in Atlanta, Ga.

"It's the biggest thing I've ever done in golf", said Herron. "I've watched all of the USGA events, the U.S. Open and the others, since I was a little kid. To win a USGA championship is something I've always dreamed of."

Neither player led by more than one hole in the encounter, but Beckel missed a makeable 10-foot birdie putt on the 15^th and a 2-foot par putt on the 16^th to lose a chance to win those holes and the match.

"I thought my putting would hold up after two matches yesterday," said Beckel. "It's astounding to me that I got to the final with the way I was putting. I had the yips all week."

Beckel, who defeated Pat Cornett of Mill Valley, Calif., in one semifinal, took an early 1-up lead in the final with a par on the third hole. But Herron took her first lead in the match at the eighth wen she hit a 9-iron to within a few inches of the hole for a birdie.

After losing the ninth to a par, Herron drove into a fairway bunker on the 10^th hole, then hit a pitching wedge to within a foot of the hole for another birdie to again go 1 up.

"That was probably the turning point of the match", said Beckel.

Herron, who defeated medalist Pat Milton, Munroe Falls, Ohio, 4 and 3, in her semifinal match, was 1 up going into the 18^th. Beckel and Herron hit the green of the par-5 finishing hole in three strokes and two-putted for pars to end the match.

Herron's brother, Tim, a player on the PGA Tour, was her caddie throughout the championship.

"After last year, when she had a chance to win but lost to the eventual champion, I wanted to caddie for her", said Tim Herron. "I knew she could win this championship. I believe in her, and I thought it was improtant for her to believe in herself."

Herron said that she was somewhat frustrated with her swing but regained her confidence late in the match.

"Tim told me, 'Slow down your swing, get your tempo back, you're a feel player. It's all timing.' and that helped. More than anything it was really fun and it was good to spend time together", said Herron.

"I've only beaten Tim in tow golf-related things", said the new champion. "I had a hole-in-one before he did and I won a USGA championship before he did."