Mary Ann Lapointe, 45, of Canada, outlasted medalist Kerry Postillion, 42, of Burr Ridge, Ill., 1 up, at the 6,124-yard, par 72 course at Shadow Hawk Golf Club in Richmond, Texas, to win the 2005 U.S. Women's MidAmateur.

In doing so, Lapointe, the 1956 reinstated amateur, became the first foreign-born champion of the Women's Mid Amateur and sixth Canadian overall to win a USGA championship. This marked fourth time the four-time Canadian Amateur winner played in the championship.

"I'm absolutely thrilled," said Lapointe, who is from Georgetown, a town of 15,000 people. "I have lots of support back home. ...Not many people were working. Lots of people were watching the Internet.

"It has been a goal of mine to win something outside of Canada. To win the Women's Mid-Amateur was a real goal of mine."

For Postillion, a 1993 reinstated amateur, it meant more disappointment at the end of a Women's Mid-Amateur. In 1996, she lost to Ellen Port, 2 and 1, on the final day

On a broiling, humid day, Lapointe assumed control early, kick-starting herself to a 2-up lead after the first two holes. She pushed it to 3 up on the sixth hole with a well-earned up and down. Standing in the left greenside bunker, she got out by banking the shot off the undulating green and watching it roll 20 feet back toward the hole. She converted the 2-footer.

Every aspect of her game was solid in building a 4-up advantage after seven holes, hitting every fairway and hitting five greens in regulation. Conversely, Postillion found just three fairways and two greens.

Heading to the 11th teeing ground 4 holes down, Postillion gave herself a pep talk. She promptly sank a 7-foot birdie putt to win the hole. The 12th began an ominous five-hole run where Lapointe couldn't the find the fairway, opening the door for a steadier Postillion. Lapointe carded three bogeys and one double bogey over that span, as her lead evaporated to l up by No.17.

On the penultimate hole the two halved with pars. It all came down to the par-5 No. 18. Hitting what she called her best drive of the match, Lapointe found the center of the fairway. Postillion invited trouble by landing in the left fairway bunker. After getting out, Postillion chunked her approach shot and the ball scooted about 40 yards. Calm and collected, Lapointe placed her 90-yard approach 15 feet above the hole. Postillion, 50-plus yards out, had no choice but to go at the fagstick.

Postillion's offering curled around the green, stopping 12 feet away from the hole on the fringe. When Lapointe's first putt stopped inches short of the hole, Postillion conceded.

In the semifinals, Postillion defeated Virginia Derby Grimes, 41, of York, Ala., 2 and 1, while Lapointe outlasted Robin Burke, 43, of Houston, Texas, 1 up.