Alice Duan (CSUN photo)

Duan, a rising junior at CSU Northridge, came into the tournament in good form, having won the Sacramento City Championship two weeks ago at Bing Maloney Golf Course. There, she grabbed a big lead after an opening 69 and cruised to a three-shot win.

The Black Horse Golf Course would not allow such scoring this weekend. Long known as one of the tougher championship tests in the region, the course fiercely defended par, not allowing a single round of even par or better over the two rounds.

Duan's first-round 73 was the low round of the tournament, and gave her the lead along with fellow Reno golfer Hannah Gregg. The pair were two shots clear of Khoo and Elan Hawkins (San Jose, CA).

Gregg fell out of contention early, as did Hawkins, but Khoo got within one shot at the turn after a Duan bogey at the par-4 9th hole. Duan was able to pick up two shots on Khoo with a par and a birdie at 12 and 13, but gave them right back with a birdie-bogey two-shot swing on the next hole.

The lead was still one with two holes to go, but a birdie at the par-3 17th was the difference maker for Duan, as it gave her a two-shot lead heading into the last hole, which she parred for a 3-over 147 total and a two-shot win.

It was a bit of redemption for Duan, who also took the first-round lead in last year's inaugural tournament, only to tumble down the leaderboard in round two, eventually finishing eight shots back in sixth.

Khoo, the former University of Nevada golfer, finished alone in second at 5-over 149.

Divya Manthena of Moorpark, CA and USC, closed with a 73 to finish third at 7-over 151. Three players -- Aiko Leong (Homolulu, HI), Antonia Malate (Seaside, CA) and Hawkins -- shared fourth place at 153.