It took six tries, but Rosie Cook finally won the Bend Ladies Invitational.

“Oh my God!” Cook said Tuesday at Bend Golf and Country Club after winning by seven strokes. “I can’t believe it! Good thing I don’t cry. It took so many years. It’s like a dream. Are you sure I won?”

Cook, 43 and of Bend, cruised to an early lead Monday with an even-par 72 for the first round. Bend’s Amy Anderson was four shots behind and in second place heading into Tuesday’s final round.

Anderson struggled on the second day, finishing with an 82, which allowed Cook to walk away with a two-day total of 148 — seven shots ahead of last year’s champ, Leilani Norman, of Eugene, who finished second with a 155.

“Leilani did pretty good today,” said Cook, a native of Malaysia. “She got back-to-back birdies and I got two bogeys in the front. But I told myself not to worry and I got to beat this girl.”

According to Cook, whose home course is Awbrey Glen Golf Club, the win was a long time coming. Since 2009, she had come in second three times, third once and fifth once. The closest Cook had ever come to winning was in 2011, when Anderson beat her in a sudden-death playoff. Last year, Cook was in first place heading into the second day, but Norman managed to come from two shots back to win.

“A couple of weeks ago at an (Oregon Golf Association) tournament I got second,” Cook said. “But I thought coming into today, that today is today and never look back, because I never know what’s going to happen. I just had to finish it today.”

For Cook, the Tuesday grouping was a reminder of years past, as she was paired with both Anderson and Norman. But Cook said she was focusing on getting through the final round.

“I got to play with all these great people, Amy and Leilani,” Cook said. “Last year I played with Leilani, then when I played with Amy, I played in a playoff. I did not want another playoff. That’s why I was so focused today. They say that a playoff is a good chance, but for me, I don’t want to deal with that.”

Anderson, whose home course is Bend Golf and Country Club, said she was disappointed, but not surprised, by her Tuesday performance.

“I played decent (on Monday),” said Anderson, who is a new mother. “I had three holes that I’d like to change, but obviously can’t. I don’t play hardly at all now that I have a baby. I think I’ve played seven rounds so far this summer, so I’m not mad.”

Anderson was the low net in her flight with a 148.

Cook also said her second day was far from stellar. But, after bogeying two holes on the front nine, she buckled down on the back nine to claim the top prize of $300 in kind. Soosie Byme of Tualatin Country Club also walked away with $300 after winning the overall low net with a two-day total of 144.

“I was not thinking about winning,” Cook said. “I focused on playing the course, make a two-putt — a three-putt is OK, don’t finish like a crazy person. And just focus. And I think I did. Not great today, but I did.”

— Reporter: 541-383-0375, eoller@bendbulletin.com.