1978 U.S. Women’s Amateur: Cathy Sherk wins at Sunnybrook G.C.

Cathy Sherk won the 1978 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Sunnybrook G.C. in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, beating Judith Oliver 4 & 3 in the final.

Updated October 22, 2026

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

Edition: 78th
Dates: August 14, 1978 to August 19, 1978
Course: Sunnybrook G.C., Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania
Format: stroke-play qualifying + match play
Champion: Cathy Sherk · age 28 · Canada
Champion's title: 1st U.S. Women’s Amateur
Runner-up: Judith Oliver
Final: 4 & 3
Losing semifinalists: Cynthia Hill and Mary Hafeman
Stroke-play medalist: Belle Robertson (Mrs. Ian Robertson) (72)
Defending champion: Beth Daniel · lost in the quarterfinals
Entries: 207

What happened at the 1978 U.S. Women’s Amateur

One up on the 18th against Cynthia Hill, Cathy Sherk overshot the green, pitched delicately from the rough and holed a short par putt to win the semifinal.

Judith Oliver holed a five-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole to beat Mary Hafeman in the semifinal, the first time she had led all day.

Final, Cathy Sherk v. Judith Oliver. Sherk's birdie on the 8th put her ahead to stay; Oliver cut a 4-up lead to two, but Sherk won three of the next four holes and closed it with a par 3 on the 33rd.

Round of 64, Denise Hermida v. Carole Caldwell. Hermida beat British Curtis Cup player Caldwell with a birdie on the 27th hole, tying the championship record for extra holes.

The draw

Every match is recorded through the semifinal.

The final, 1978 U.S. Women’s Amateur

Winner		Beaten	Result
Cathy Sherk	def.	Judith Oliver	4 & 3

Semifinals, 1978 U.S. Women’s Amateur

Winner		Beaten	Result
Cathy Sherk	def.	Cynthia Hill	1 up
Judith Oliver	def.	Mary Hafeman	won on 19th hole

Quarterfinals, 1978 U.S. Women’s Amateur

Winner		Beaten	Result
Cathy Sherk	def.	Pat Cornett	7 & 6
Cynthia Hill	def.	Beth Daniel	1 up

Round of 64, 1978 U.S. Women’s Amateur

Winner		Beaten	Result
Denise Hermida	def.	Carole Caldwell	won on 27th hole

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.