This week’s 23rd CoBank Colorado Women’s Open promises to be one of the most notable in the history of the tournament.
One reason is the huge increase in the purse announced earlier this year. With the championship being conducted Wednesday through Friday (Aug. 30-Sept. 1) at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in northeast Denver, the overall prize money will double from last year, to $150,000. And first prize — among the professionals — will more than quadruple, going from $11,000 in 2016 to $50,000 this year.
The other reason is that Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster will be competing in the tournament for the first time since she finished runner-up as a 17-year-old in 2014.
The three-time CWGA Player of the Year has had a very memorable last 100 days as a competitor. During that stretch, the Wake Forest golfer has finished second individually at the Women’s NCAA Championships, won the CWGA Stroke Play for the third consecutive year, won the Canadian Women’s Amateur and finished 21st overall at the U.S. Women’s Open.
That makes Kupcho a very good bet to contend for the title at GVR. Only one player — Paige Mackenzie in 2006 — has won the Colorado Women’s Open as an amateur.
Also in the CWO field this week are former University of Denver golfer Ellie Givens, a regular on the Ladies European Tour and Symetra Tour; and former champions Erin Houtsma, Joy Trotter, Moira Dunn-Bohls and 2016 winner Lauren Coughlin. Likewise competing will be Colorado-based professionals Ashley Tait and Somin Lee, and Alexandra Braga, who has won the last two Colorado PGA Women’s Championships.
Among the amateurs, in addition to Kupcho, are 2016 low am Jessica Dreesbeimdieke from the University of Denver, Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Janet Moore, DU’s Mary Weinstein and Colorado State University’s Ellen Secor.
There had been a qualifying tournament scheduled for Monday (Aug. 28), but it was canceled as all there was room for all the championship entrants into the field.
As usual, many championship contestants will simultaneously compete in the pro-am, which is similar to what the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am does on the PGA Tour.
Spectators are welcome at the Colorado Women’s Open, free of charge.
For Wednesday’s tee times, CLICK HERE.
