Lois Hodge

Lois Hodge, 57, of Los Altos, California, shot rounds of 77-76-75-228 to win the championship by one stroke over 1985 Champion Marlene Streit of Stouffville, Ontario, Canada, and by two strokes over Harriet Hart of Ponte Vedra, Florida. Hodge had been runner-up in the 1983 championship.

Belle Robertson, of Glasgow, Scotland, birdied four consecutive holes on the first nine in shooting two-over-par 75 to take the lead after the first round. She was two strokes ahead of Hodge, Hart and Joan Comisar of Cincinnati. Robertson bogeyed four consecutive holes early in the second round and fell from the lead.

Four-time champion Dorothy Porter of Cinnaminson, New Jersey, shot the best round of the second day, a 75, to earn a share of the 36-hole lead. Her total of 153 tied her with Hart and Hodge, who each shot 77-76. Anne Sander of Seattle, Washington, the 1987 champion, was one stroke behind. After playing the first nine in 35, Hart held a three-stroke lead, but a double-bogey at the 10th and a bogey at the 11th left her tied with Hodge.

The two remained tied, with Streit one stroke behind, until Hart drove into the water on the 17th and made another bogey. She also bogeyed the 18th to finish in third place. Hodge, playing a group ahead of Hart, parred the final five holes to secure the victory.

Streit was the Group 1 winner (ages 50-54). Hodge won Group 2 (ages 55-59); Dot Porter won Group 3 (ages 60-64) with a 232 total; and Alberta Bower, the 1975 champion won Group 4 (ages 65 and over) with 238. The USGA accepted 182 entries for the championship.