Cynthia Hill

Miss Cynthia Hill, of Colorado Springs, Colo., twice runnerup, defeated Miss Carol Semple, the defending Champion from Sewickley, Pa., 5 and 4 in the 36-hole final round at the Broadmoor Golf Club, Seattle, Wash.

Miss Hill had lost in the final round in both 1970 and 1972. Miss Semple was attempting to become the first to win consecutive Championships since Betty James in 1939 and 1940.

Earlier in 1974 she had won the British Ladies' Championship. Medalist was Miss Debbie Massey, of Bethlehem, Pa., with a two-under par 70. She was eliminated in the semi-final round by Miss Hill, 4 and 2. The other semi-finalist was Miss Peggy Conley, from Spokane, Wash. Miss Conley, runnerup in the 1963 Championship, was eliminated by Miss Semple, 3 and 1.

In the morning round of the final match Miss Hill was seven over par and Miss Semple 12 over, with Miss Hill 3 up. The afternoon produced much better golf. Miss Hill was two under par with 12 pars and two birdies on the 14 holes played, while Miss Semple was even par, with two birdies offsetting two bogies.

Miss Hill did not let up after establishing her 3-up lead in the morning, and went 4 up on the first hole of the final 18, where Miss Semple three-putted. Miss Hill won the short par-3 fifth hole with a birdie to go 5 up, then birdied the par-4, 315-yard eighth hole to stand 6 up.

Miss Semple came back on the 369-yard ninth hole with a birdie 3 to cut Miss Hill's lead to 5 up, but lost the par-3 11th with a bogie to Miss Hill's par 3, to go 6 down again.

Miss Semple birdied the 13th to stand 5 down with five to play, and Miss Hill ended the match by matching Miss Semple's par 3 on the 14th hole. The entry was 121.