July 16, 2004

BEND, Ore. - Renee Skidmore of Everett, Wash., defeated Gonzaga University sophomore-to-be Mary Kate Morgan of Longview, Wash., 5 and 3 Friday in the 36-hole final of the 103rd Pacific Northwest Golf Association Women's Amateur Championship at the Bend Golf and Country Club.

Skidmore gained a quick advantage by combining crisp iron play with a solid putting game. Skidmore birdied the 505 yard par 5 second hole, Bend's hardest, when she hit a short iron shot to 8 feet and drained the putt. Morgan evened the match when Skidmore made double bogey on the 10th hole. Morgan took her only lead of the match when Skidmore's third shot found the water guarded 13th green.

A three putt by Morgan on the 14th hole evened the match and Skidmore added to her lead when she won 3 of the next four holes. Skidmore was 3 up at the turn. She stretched her lead to 6 up after 27 holes. Morgan won the 10th and 12th holes to keep the match alive but Skidmore closed her out with a par on the 499 yard par 5 33rd hole. The 29th hole of their match provided excitement to the crowd as Morgan sank a 50 foot double breaking birdie putt only to see Skidmore calmly make her 12 foot birdie putt to tie the hole.