Friday, July 21, 2000
Camacho wins N.Ky. Women's Am
3-time prep regional champ adds news title
By Ray Schaefer
Enquirer contributor
Diana Camacho found trouble on No. 14.
(Gary Landers photo)
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By Thursday afternoon, Diana Camacho's claim to the title of best female amateur golfer in Northern Kentucky was as clear as the Waterford crystal statue she won.
The 20-year-old Northern Kentucky University junior captured her first Northern Kentucky Women's Amateur title with a 4 and 2 victory over Lisa Houchen at Twin Oaks Golf Course in Covington.
Camacho also became the second-youngest champion in tournament history (Lori Oldendick Eberle won in 1985 at age 19).
“I just wanted to win, and I came here and did what I wanted,” Camacho said. “I was thinking, "Just make pars, play well and don't worry.'”
Houchen finished second for the second time (she was runner-up to Leslie Kyle three years ago).
“I didn't expect to be here,” she said.
It took only about three hours for Camacho to put Houchen away, but at first it looked liked it wouldn't take that long — Camacho won the first two holes in about 20 minutes.
Then Houchen rebounded — she evened the match by taking the next two holes. But Camacho didn't let up the rest of the day.
On the 371-yard par-5 No.5 hole, Camacho's third shot became one of the best of the tournament. She took a pitching wedge and blasted from underneath a tree about 100 yards away to about a foot from the cup.
The result: a tap-in birdie and a 1-up lead that grew to 3-up with nine to play. Camacho's lead could have been larger if not for her two three-putts the next two holes.
“It seemed like every other hole, I had a good one and a bad one,” Houchen said.
Short-iron play was the biggest reason Camacho extended her lead to 5-up with six to go. Houchen's chip shots were alternately too short (she needed three strokes to get to the 10th green) and too long (her second shot on 12 hit the cart path and landed on a hill behind the green).
Camacho won three high school regional titles at Grant County, but those are fast fading in importance.
“I didn't play as well as I wanted,” Camacho said “It was good enough.”
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