Laura Baugh

Miss Laura Baugh, of Long Beach, Calif. became the second 16-year-old Women's Amateur Champion and probably the youngest when she defeated Miss Beth Barry, of Dauphin Island, Ala., 1 up, at the Atlanta Country Club, Atlanta, Ga. Miss Baugh was age 16 years, 2 months, 21 days when she won. Miss Beatrix Hoyt was 16 years, 3 months, 4 days of age when she won in 1896.

Miss Baugh, a high school student in Long Beach, defeated two former Champions. She eliminated Mrs. Mark A. Porter, of Riverton, N.J., 3 and 1, in the second round, and Miss Barbara McIntire, Colorado Springs, Colo. 1 up, in the quarter-final round. Mrs. Porter was the 1949 Champion and Miss McIntire won in 1959 and 1964.

Miss Barry was 3-up on Miss Baugh after eight holes of the final match, but Miss Baugh pulled even after 16 holes. Miss Barry then won the 18th and went to lunch leading, 1 up. After nine holes of the afternoon round Miss Baugh held a 1 -up lead. Miss Barry birdied the 12th with a 30-foot putt, but Miss Baugh won the 15th with a par. They halved the remainder of the holes.

Among Miss Barry's victims were Miss Martha Wilkinson, the defending Champion, and Miss Polly Riley, a member of six Curtis Cup Teams. Miss Connie June Day, of Chattanooga, and Miss Jane Bastanchury, of Whitler, Calif., each scored 150, low score in the 36-hole qualifying round. The entry was 102.