Aug. 3, 2007

107th U.S. Women's Amateur Championship Tournament Site

DAVIS, Calif. -- UC Davis women's golf assistant coach Lynne Cowan will be participating in the 107th U.S. Women's Amateur Championship beginning Monday at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Ind., - the fifth time she's qualified for the tournament - and Aggie head coach Kathy DeYoung will be right alongside serving as her caddy.

Cowan, a resident of Davis, will open competition at the event with 18 holes of stroke play on both Monday and Tuesday. The top 64 finishers after the first two days will advance to match play on Wednesday with a 36-hole final to be contested on Sunday. Cowan earned an entry into the event after winning a playoff to finish as first alternate during sectional qualifying at Corral de Tierra Country Club near Monterey in early July. DeYoung served as her caddy during that tournament as well.

Cowan has amassed an impressive amateur career, winning California Women's Amateur Championships in 1999, 2000 and 2005 as well as the Chrysler National Club Championship in 2004. She added to her resume last Friday by capturing her second consecutive Northern California Golf Association (NGCA) Women's Championship at Poppy Hills Golf Course after posting a birdie on the final hole. She carded a two-round total of 146, edging San Jose State student Jenelle Gomez by a stroke for the second straight year.

"We are very excited and looking forward to competition with the best amateurs in the country," said DeYoung. "Lynne's first goal is to do well in (stroke play) and reach match play. After that it will be one match (and) one shot at a time. I feel good about her chances as she is playing some of her best golf of the year right now. It should be a lot of fun."

Crooked Stick GC will offer up a par-72, 6,595-yard layout, including a mammoth 587-yard, par-5 fifth hole. The course, designed by Pete Dye, will be hosting its fifth USGA championship which includes the 1993 U.S. Women's Open. It was also the site of John Daly's improbable PGA Championship in 1990 as well as the 2005 Solheim Cup.

Cowan has been DeYoung's assistant coach since the program started varsity competition in 2005. The Aggies have enjoyed tremendous success during their first two years, including winning a Div. I Independent Championship in 2006 and posting three runner-up finishes and a tournament title at the Cal Poly Invitational this past season.