A lunker for Lunke - Rookie's first win is U.S. Women's Open

NORTH PLAINS, Ore. -- Only when Hilary Lunke saw her 15-foot birdie putt break sharply to the left and head for the center of the cup did she grasp the magnitude of her victory Monday in the U.S. Women's Open.

No one had ever won the most prestigious prize in women's golf as a qualifier. In 22 events on the LPGA Tour, Lunke had never finished better than 15th.

And on the longest course in U.S. Women's Open history, she was among the shortest hitters, unable to reach some greens with a fairway metal.

In a three-way playoff at Pumpkin Ridge, Lunke surprised everyone but herself.

"I don't know how many people knew about my game or knew about me," she said. "I didn't need other people to believe in me, but it was important that I did."

The final stroke was her best of the day, a 15-footer for birdie just moments after Angela Stanford holed from 30 feet for birdie from just off the green that made it look like an 18-hole playoff wouldn't be enough to find a winner.

Stanford got into the playoff with a 20-foot birdie on Sunday on the final hole, but she never got another chance for more heroics.

"I've heard that roar twice for Angela," Lunke said. "It was nice to hear it for me."

Lunke was overcome with emotion when the ball disappeared, thrusting her arms in the air and sobbing as she hugged her husband, then breaking down again when she saw her parents.

Lunke missed a 12-foot birdie putt Sunday with a chance to win.

On Monday, the birdie putt gave her a 1-under 70, one stroke ahead of Stanford and three shots better than Kelly Robbins.