She’s No Ordinary Joh

Tiger Woods, an adopted son of San Diego golf as a master of Torrey Pines, won the U.S. Open instead of hometown favorite Phil Mickelson.

But that doesn’t mean San Diego has been shut out by the United States Golf Association this summer.

One week after Woods’ playoff victory over Rocco Mediate, another San Diegan was holding a USGA silver cup. UCLA three-time All-American Tiffany Joh, a Rancho Bernardo High alumnus, won her second U.S. Amateur Public Links championship in the past three years.

Joh defeated Jennifer Song in the 36-hold match-play final Saturday at Erin Hills Golf Course in Erin, Wis.

“It means everything,” said Joh. “I think back when I first won it [2006], I didn’t really know what I was doing. I was just kind of out there thinking, ‘I get to play another round.’ I think I stumbled into it. Afterwards, I realized how much it did for my confidence.”

The prestigious title came three weeks after she helped the United States win the Curtis Cup, a women’s amateur competition between the U.S. against a team from Great Britain and Ireland. Joh scored a match-play victory in the tournament played on the Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland.

In April, Joh was named the Pac-10 Player of the Year. In May, she finished as the NCAA Tournament runner-up when she lost in a sudden-death playoff.

One question: When is the U.S. Women’s Open coming to Torrey Pines?

— TOM SHANAHAN