Joh Wins Women's Public Links Title

Tiffany Joh, 21, of San Diego, Calif., defeated Jennifer Song, 18, of Korea, 2 and 1, in Saturday's 36-hole final to capture her second U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship. The 2008 event was held at the 6,158-yard, par-73 Erin Hills Golf Course in Erin, Wisc.

Joh, who will be a senior at UCLA, became just the fifth player in the WAPL's 32-year history to win multiple titles, joining Kelly Fuiks (1977, '78), Lori Castillo (1979, '80), Pearl Sinn (1988, '89) and Jo Jo Robertson (1995, '97) as the only other women to do so. In her first victory in 2006, Joh defeated Kimberly Kim of Hilo, Hawaii, at Walking Stick Golf Course in Pueblo, Colo.

"It means everything," said Joh, who dedicated her title to the father of her college roommate (Beth Wallace), Chuck Wallace, who died six weeks ago of cancer. "I think back when I first won it, I didn't really know what I was doing. I was just kind of out there thinking, oh, bonus rounds. I get to play another round. I think I stumbled into it. Afterwards, I realized how much it did for my confidence. I think winning this time around when I really wanted it, it was that much more meaningful."

Song, an incoming freshman at University of Southern California, never trailed until the 33rd hole of the match despite having problems with her putter. Up to that point, Song, who was the co-low amateur at the 2007 U.S. Women's Open at Pine Needles, played consistent golf and capitalized on putting errors by Joh to take a 2-up lead at lunch. "I felt like I was in control [until] the last few holes," said Song, who has qualified for next week's U.S. Women's Open at Interlachen Country Club in Edina, Minn. "I felt I was not myself. I was thinking ahead of myself. That was the mistake."

Song did not trail until the par-4 15th, the 33rd hole of the match. Joh, who squared the match with a two-putt birdie at the 32nd hole, sank a 15-foot birdie putt at 15 and Song failed to answer from 12 feet. Song's putting woes continued at the par-3 34th when she three-putted from 25 feet. Her 4-footer for par just missed. Joh ran her 21-footer from the fringe to 3 feet and converted the winning par putt to go dormie with two holes to go.

At the par-4 35th hole, both golfers had chances for birdie; Song from 25 feet and Joh from 8. When both missed, the par putts were conceded, ending the match. With the usual match-play concessions, Joh shot the equivalent of 5-under par, while Song was 2-over. In 2006, Joh was 11-under par over 31 holes, including a hole-out for an eagle-2.

"The first 27 holes weren't very beautiful," said Joh. "After the first round I just kind of sat on the putting green and looked at my ball and tried to convince myself that I was still a good putter, and I think that helped when the pressure got high towards the end."

Joh will next compete in the U.S. Women's Amateur in early August at Eugene (Ore.) Country Club, while Song will play in the U.S. Women's Open and the Women's Amateur.

Heading into the summer, Joh finished runner-up to USC several times, including at the NCAA Division I Championship, when the Trojans edged the Bruins by six strokes to win the team title, and in the Pacific-10 Conference Championship, although Joh won the individual title.

"It was on my mind, but not like that," said Joh about the USC rivalry. "It was more like … how much [ribbing] is [UCLA teammate and reigning U.S. Women's Amateur champion] Maria [Jose Uribe] going to give me for coming in second again or something. But it's really not something that concerns me at all."

The above recap was excerpted from a story written by Kent Zakour, USGA Media Relations summer intern.