1996 U.S. Women’s Amateur: Kelli Kuehne wins at Firethorn G.C.

Kelli Kuehne won the 1996 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Firethorn G.C. in Lincoln, Nebraska, beating Marisa Baena 2 & 1 in the final.

Updated October 22, 2026

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

Edition: 96th
Dates: August 5, 1996 to August 10, 1996
Course: Firethorn G.C., Lincoln, Nebraska
Format: stroke-play qualifying + match play
Champion: Kelli Kuehne · age 19 · United States
Champion's title: 2nd U.S. Women’s Amateur
Runner-up: Marisa Baena · age 19
Final: 2 & 1
Losing semifinalists: unknown and unknown
Stroke-play medalist: Kellee Booth (141)
Defending champion: Kelli Kuehne · won
Entries: 495

What happened at the 1996 U.S. Women’s Amateur

Kelli Kuehne closed out Marisa Baena 2 and 1 on the 35th hole, the 146-yard par-3 17th, when Baena's 8-iron tee shot found a water hazard.

Joellyn Erdmann beat Grace Park in 27 holes in the quarterfinals, the longest quarterfinal in championship history until 2017.

Final, Marisa Baena v. Kelli Kuehne. Kelli Kuehne closed out Marisa Baena 2 and 1 on the 35th hole, the 146-yard par-3 17th, when Baena's 8-iron tee shot found a water hazard.

Quarterfinal, Joellyn Erdmann v. Grace Park. Joellyn Erdmann beat Grace Park in 27 holes, the second-longest quarterfinal in championship history.

The draw

Every match is recorded through the final.

The final, 1996 U.S. Women’s Amateur

Winner		Beaten	Result
Kelli Kuehne	def.	Marisa Baena	2 & 1

Quarterfinals, 1996 U.S. Women’s Amateur

Winner		Beaten	Result
Joellyn Erdmann	def.	Grace Park	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.