1961 U.S. Women’s Amateur: Anne Quast Sander wins at Tacoma (Wash.) C. & G.C.

Anne Quast Sander won the 1961 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Tacoma (Wash.) C. & G.C. in Tacoma, Washington, beating Phyllis Preuss 14 & 13 in the final.

Updated October 22, 2026

Walk this draw in the U.S. Women’s Amateur room.

Edition: 61st
Dates: August 21, 1961 to August 26, 1961
Course: Tacoma (Wash.) C. & G.C., Tacoma, Washington
Format: match play
Champion: Anne Quast Sander · age 23 · United States
Champion's title: 2nd U.S. Women’s Amateur
Runner-up: Phyllis Preuss · age 22
Final: 14 & 13
Losing semifinalists: Mrs. Gaines Wilson Jr. (Louise Wilson) and Roberta Albers
Defending champion: JoAnne Gunderson Carner · lost in the round of 64
Entries: 107

What happened at the 1961 U.S. Women’s Amateur

Anne Quast Decker was 12 up after the morning 18 and beat Phyllis Preuss 14 and 13 on the 23rd hole, the largest winning margin in a USGA final.

Fourteen-year-old Roberta Albers became the youngest semifinalist, beating Judy Eller and Karen Schull on the way before losing to Preuss 2 and 1.

Final, Anne Quast Decker v. Phyllis Preuss. Decker was 6 up after nine and 12 up after 18 on soaked Tacoma fairways and closed out a record 14-and-13 win on the 23rd hole.

Semifinal, Phyllis Preuss v. Roberta Albers. Preuss took a 1-up lead at the 11th and ended 14-year-old Albers' run 2 and 1 on the 17th.

The draw

Every match is recorded through the semifinal.

The final, 1961 U.S. Women’s Amateur

Winner		Beaten	Result
Anne Quast Sander	def.	Phyllis Preuss	14 & 13

Semifinals, 1961 U.S. Women’s Amateur

Winner		Beaten	Result
Anne Quast Sander	def.	Mrs. Gaines Wilson Jr.	5 & 4
Phyllis Preuss	def.	Roberta Albers	2 & 1

Quarterfinals, 1961 U.S. Women’s Amateur

Winner		Beaten	Result
Anne Quast Sander	def.	Mrs. Ruth Miller	5 & 3
Roberta Albers	def.	Karen Schull	7 & 5

Round of 16, 1961 U.S. Women’s Amateur

Winner		Beaten	Result
Anne Quast Sander	def.	Polly Riley	3 & 2
Roberta Albers	def.	Mary Patton Janssen	5 & 4

Round of 32, 1961 U.S. Women’s Amateur

Winner		Beaten	Result
Anne Quast Sander	def.	Judy Rand	6 & 5
Roberta Albers	def.	Judy Eller	5 & 3

Round of 64, 1961 U.S. Women’s Amateur

Winner		Beaten	Result
Anne Quast Sander	def.	Sharon Fladoos	4 & 2
Roberta Albers	def.	Mrs. Henry Hulscher	4 & 3
Mary Lowell	def.	JoAnne Gunderson Carner	won on 19th hole

Round of 128, 1961 U.S. Women’s Amateur

Winner		Beaten	Result
Anne Quast Sander	def.	Judy Torluemke	5 & 3
Roberta Albers	def.	Pat Dwyer	5 & 4

How this was built

Every value is shown as recorded in GNN's U.S. Women’s Amateur data set (research collected through October 20, 2026). "unknown" means no source confirmed it; nothing is estimated. Where sources disagree, the USGA's own record is used.

Data: us-womens-amateur.json.