1992

Patty Sheehan made a remarkable rally to force an 18-hole playoff, then defeated Juli Inkster by two strokes in that playoff to win the U.S. Women's Open at storied Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club.

The victory was sweet redemption for Sheehan, 35, of Reno, Nev., who had finished second in three previous Women's Opens, including the 1990 championship at Atlanta Athletic Club, where she had a 12-stroke lead early in the third round.

Sheehan was among the leaders throughout the championship. Her first-round 69, two under par, gave her a share of the lead with four others: Muffin Spencer-Devlin, Donna Andrews, Nancy Ramsbottom and Tracy Kerdyk. Andrews had a chance to take sole posession of the lead, but she was penalized two strokes late in her round. She had addressed her ball just off the 17th green and accidently moved it with her putter head in making a practice stroke. She then failed to replace her ball where it originally lay.

Heavy rain and lightning forced the conclusion of the second round into Saturday, but when 36 holes were completed, Scotland's Pam Wright was at 3-under-par 139, one stroke ahead of Inkster and two better than Sheehan. Inkster had a second-round 68 and Wright a 69 as only three players managed to break 70.

After 54 holes, the co-leaders were Sheehan (70) and Inkster (71), who were also the only players under par through three rounds. Their total of 2-under-par 211 was three shots ahead of Gail Graham, whose 1-under 71 included nine one-putt greens, Andrews and Dawn Coe.

The battle for the championship came down to Sheehan and Inkster, who were paired together in the final group. They concluded 72 holes four strokes ahead of Andrews, who finished third, and seven ahead of defending champion Meg Mallon in fourth place. With Inkster ahead by two strokes and the leaders on the 17th hole, a lightning storm hit the course and forced a delay of nearly two hours. When play resumed, Sheehan made a 10-foot birdie putt at the 17th green to get within one stroke, then tied Inkster when she holed an 18-foot putt at the final hole for another birdie. The low amateur was Vicki Goetze, 19, of Watkinsville, Ga. It was the third time Goetze had accomplished the feat; she was low amateur in 1989 and 1990.

Sheehan never trailed in the playoff. After a birdie at the first hole, she increased her lead at the seventh, when Inkster made a bogey five. With the lead still at two strokes, Sheehan birdied the par-3 13th, and when Inkster bogeyed the next hole Sheehan's lead was four with four holes to play.