Nicholas Foils Bid By Lopez Briton Wins U.S. Women’s Open

For a moment, as the ball rolled toward the hole on the 18th green late Sunday afternoon, Nancy Lopez - and all those who had pulled for her through four tense hours - watched her birdie putt attempt and believed it was going to fall into the cup. This would be the stroke that would finally even her daylong duel with Alison Nicholas, a diminutive 5-footer from Britain. This stroke would provide the opening for a U.S. Women’s Open championship that has eluded Lopez throughout a Hall of Fame career.

As the putt neared the hole, Lopez moved to her left, a half-step that seemed a prelude to celebration. But as she went left, the ball went right.

This putt, like so many others by Lopez Sunday, was inches off line. Lopez, at 40 the winner of 48 professional golf events but never a U.S. Open, stopped to stare at her ball as it came to rest, and then she closed her eyes. The wild cheering from the grandstand that had accompanied the rolling ball lapsed, like a giant emotional exhale.

Lopez’s improbable quest for the 1997 Women’s Open championship at the Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club expired in that moment, and Nicholas, 35, who had stood motionless as she watched Lopez’s birdie attempt, immediately started walking toward the green. She had only a 2-footer left between her and victory.

When Nicholas’ par putt was safely in the hole, she pumped her fist and grinned.

“I never thought I was going to win until that last second,” said Nicholas, who began the day with a three-stroke lead and shot an even-par 71 to win the tournament with the record low total of 10 under par.

“I wouldn’t allow myself to believe it,” said Nicholas, who earned the biggest paycheck of her career. “I’ve had a lot of dreams in my life. And this is one of them.”

Lopez, who shot a 69 Sunday to finish one stroke behind Nicholas, was tearful afterward but grateful.

“I thought it was my time to do it, to finally win a U.S. Open,” she said. “I wish I could have done it. But I’m happy because I tried my hardest, and I played well. This entire tournament was a blessing for me, a wonderful experience.”

Lopez, who now has been the runner-up in the Open four times, had several opportunities to catch Nicholas, none better than her par putt of 10 feet on the 17th hole, where Nicholas made bogey. Alhough that putt was on line, it stopped just short.

“That was a tough one to take,” said Lopez, who became the first woman to shoot four rounds under 70 in an Open. “It was two revolutions of the ball from going in. I might think about that one later, but you know, you can’t make them all.”

Nicholas’ 10-under total bettered the previous record of 9 under by Pat Bradley in 1981. Nicholas’ numerical total of 274, however, is still two strokes behind Annika Sorenstam’s total of 272 in 1996, which was shot on a par-70 course.

Kelly Robbins, one of the favorites entering the event, shot 66 Sunday to finish at 7 under par. Robbins, with two victories this season on the LPGA tour, had three rounds in the 60s, but a 3-over-par 74 in the third round ruined her chances for a victory.

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: LEADERBOARD Final score and relation to par for leaders at the U.S. Women’s Open: 1. Alison Nicholas 274 -10 2. Nancy Lopez 275 -9 3. Kelly Robbins 277 -7 4. Karrie Webb 278 -6 5. Stefania Croce 279 -5 5. Lisa Hackney 279 -5

Area players 56. Tracy Hanson 297 +13 62. Robin Walton 299 +15