Blumenherst Captures U.S. Women's Amateur

What a difference one year makes.

Duke rising senior Amanda Blumenherst, the three-time defending National Player of the Year, won the U.S. Women's Amateur at the Eugene Country Club in Eugene, Ore., Sunday, one year after losing on the event's final hole last year. This time around, Blumenherst stormed back on the last nine holes of the 36-hole championship, taking her first lead over Spain's Azahara Munoz on the 31st hole and playing beautiful golf down the stretch to redeem her tough 2007 defeat with a 2-and-1 final.

With the win, Blumenherst became the sixth player to take the amateur crown a year after losing in the final. She also became the first college golfer to win since former Duke star Virada Nirapathpongporn in 2003.

The USGA chronicled Sunday's 36 holes with an informative and telling live blog, which provides hole-by-hole coverage. And for those regular readers and visitors interested in some background reading on Blumenherst, here are some links to selected stories from The Chronicle:

• PARRING WITH THE CHAMP: What happens when a Chronicle reporter plays nine holes with Blumenherst.
• BLUMENHERST TAKES NPOY: Blumenherst won her third consecutive National Player of the Year award this year.
• TARGET PRACTICE: How it feels for Blumenherst and the Blue Devils to play with a constant target on their backs.
• HISTORY DENIED:The Chronicle live-blogged this year's NCAA Championship, when Duke came up short in its historic quest for four consecutive national championships.

--by Ben Cohen