A one-day interruption of play at the LPGA Q-Series due to bad weather didn’t faze the momentum Jennifer Kupcho was building in the final stage of Q-school.
The Westminster resident (left in a photo courtesy of the Kupcho family) was one stroke off the lowest round of the day on Saturday in shooting a 4-under-par 68 and shares seventh place after the third round of the eight-round event in Pinehurst, N.C.
Kupcho, the NCAA Division I champion from Wake Forest who’s the No. 1-ranked women’s amateur in the world, used an eagle on her 15th hole Saturday to shoot a 4-under 32 on her back nine. She finished with an eagle, four birdies and two bogeys to check in at 3-under 213 overall. She trails leader Klara Spilkova by eight.
The Q-Series features two 72-hole stroke-play tournaments held on consecutive weeks — Wednesday through Sunday and Oct. 31-Nov. 3, both at Pinehurst Resort. Scores are cumulative over the two weeks, with the top 45 finishers and ties earning LPGA cards. As of the end of Saturday’s round, the players at 5-over 221 and better were inside the top 45.
Amateurs — such as Kupcho — who go on to earn their LPGA Tour cards can defer their acceptance of membership until July 1, 2019. That means they could complete their college seasons before joining the LPGA Tour should they qualify.
Two other players with strong Colorado ties also posted under-par rounds on Saturday, though they remain outside the top 45 in the 102-player field.
University of Colorado golfer Robyn Choi, who started the Q-Series with back-to-back rounds of 79, tied for the low round of the day on Saturday as she made six birdies en route to a 67, leaving her at 225 and in 78th place.
And Becca Huffer of Denver carded a 70 to check in at 223, good for 59th place. One stroke behind her is former CU golfer Jenny Coleman, who recorded a 74 on Saturday.
Here are the round-by-round scores for the players with strong Colorado connections:
7. Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster 73-72-68–213
59. Becca Huffer of Denver 77-76-70–223
70. Former CU golfer Jenny Coleman 75-75-74–224
78. CU golfer Robyn Choi 79-79-67–225
For complete results, CLICK HERE.
