Mary Enright

Mary Enright, 20, of San Leandro, California, won the Women's Amateur Public Links Championship by defeating Lauri Merten, of Phoenix, Arizona, 3 and 1, in the final at the Emerald Valley Gof Course in Creswell, Oregon. Enright was only the third different champion in the event's five year history.

The medalist was 14-year-old Kay Cornelius, of Scottsdale, Arizona, who posted a 36-hole score of 152, four strokes better than anyone else in the field. Enright, who had won the California Women's Amateur title earlier in the year, advanced to match play with a 159 total. Merten, who only made the field as an alternate, had 158. Two-time champion Lori Castillo, of Honolulu, Hawaii, reached match play with a 156 total. Her string of 11 consecutive match victories ended in the second round when she lost on the first extra hole to Pam Elders.

Enright reached the championship match by defeating Heidi Brice, of Lake Oswego, Oregon, 3 and 2; Susan Berdoy, of Litchfield Park, Arizona, 1 up; Janis Kleiman, of Rushiville, Indiana, 1 up; and Beth Sierra, of Lansing, Michigan, 4 and 3. In the other bracket, Merten advanced by eliminating Nancy Taylor, of Phoenix, Arizona, 2 up; Libby Akers, of French Lick, Indiana, 6 and 5; Kay Cornelius, 3 and 1; and Lisa Bradley, of Emporia, Kansas, 2 and 1.

Through eight holesof the final, Enright and Merten were even, each having won two holes to that point. Enright won the 9th with a birdie putt of 10 feet and then won the 10th with a par to go 2 up. Merten got one hole back with a par at the 12th. Enright then won the 15th with a birdie putt of 15 feet for a 2 up lead. At the 17th, her 20-foot birdie putt ended the match. The Phoenix, Arizona Team of Berdoy, Cornelius and Kelly Merten (Lauri's sister) won the team trophy with 473, outdistancing the second place team from Miami, Florida, by 26 strokes. The Championship drew 686 entries, as in the first event in 1977, but short of the 728 entries attracted in 1980.