Inkster Has a Blast on Way to Five-Stroke Victory

L.A. Times Archives

June 7, 1999 12 AM PT

From Associated Press

WEST POINT, Miss. —

Crushed by a playoff loss seven years ago, torn between her career and two young daughters, Juli Inkster made a triumphant return to the top Sunday by winning the most prized possession in women’s golf.

Inkster fought off a spirited challenge from Kelli Kuehne to win the U.S. Women’s Open with a one-under-par 71 that gave her the lowest 72-hole score in relation to par in the 54-year history of the championship.

Inkster, 38, of Los Altos, Calif., became the oldest champion since 40-year-old Fay Crocker in 1955. She also ended four years of foreign supremacy in the Women’s Open.

“I can’t believe it,” Inkster said through sobs. “This is the best. I’m bringing the trophy back to America.”

She finished at 16-under 272. The previous record was a 10-under 274 by Alison Nicholas at Pumpkin Ridge in Oregon in 1997. Annika Sorenstam had an eight-under 272 at Pine Needles in North Carolina in 1996.

Sherri Turner, who had an eagle on the 408-yard 11th hole, finished five strokes back. Kuehne made a double bogey from the water on the closing hole for a 74 that left her in third place at 279.

The margin of victory was no indication of the fight Inkster had on her hands from the start. Kuehne, a 22-year-old who plays her best in USGA events, had eight birdie chances on the front nine.

But she made only one, and Inkster answered every challenge.

“I just told myself that I’ve got to have the heart to win this thing,” Inkster said.

She saved par on No. 1, put in a six-foot birdie putt on top of Kuehne’s 15-footer on No. 2 and answered a sloppy bogey with a 15-foot birdie putt on No. 6.

But the defining moment may have been the par-three seventh hole, when Inkster had a lie in the bunker that had looked like she would be lucky to make bogey. The ball was plugged so badly that it caused a perfect crater around it.

Inkster’s shoulders dropped when she walked up to the bunker and saw what she had. Shifting her feet into the sand, she blasted out and nearly holed the shot.

“That was an all-world bunker shot,” Inkster said.

Her eyes bulged out and her lips fluttered in relief.

“Fried egg in the bunker . . . you’ve got to know it’s going to be her day,” Kuehne said.

Kuehne lost any chance by missing the 10th green with a wedge and missing a six-foot putt for par. When Inkster made a four-foot birdie putt on the 13th, she had a spring in her step over the final five holes to victory.

“She was playing way too consistent to have any meltdown,” Kuehne said.

The Women’s Open was the fourth major championship for Inkster but her first in 10 years.

Her last best chance was in the 1992 Open, when she led by two strokes with two holes to play until Patty Sheehan birdied 17 and 18, then defeated Inkster in a playoff.

“I was devastated for a long time,” Inkster said. “This was my turn. No one can take this away from me. I’m the U.S. Open champion.”

She became only the eighth player to win three legs of the LPGA’s modern grand slam, and goes to the LPGA Championship in three weeks with a chance to join Pat Bradley as the only women to win all four.

Not long ago, Inkster thought it might be time to quit golf. She went without a victory for four years and failed to finish in the top 20 on the money list during a time when her second daughter was born in 1994.

But she decided to rededicate herself to practice, and began taking her daughters--ages 9 and 5--to as many tournaments as she could.

“It’s a lot easier to think about birdies when you don’t have to think about diapers,” Inkster said.

Now, she may finally get credit for one of the most overlooked careers in golf.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Final Scores

U.S. WOMEN’S OPEN--Par 72

272 (-16)--$315,000

Juli Inkster 65-69-67-71

277 (-11)--$185,000

Sherri Turner 69-69-68-71

279 (-9)--$118,227

Kelli Kuehne 64-71-70-74