Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster picked up on Friday where she left off on Monday, when she qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open for the first time.
The Wake Forest freshman, competing strictly as an individual at the Women’s NCAA Division I Finals in Eugene, Ore., rallied late in her round to open with a 3-under-par 69, which left her in an eight-way tie for third place with three rounds remaining.
The two-time CWGA Player of the Year played her final seven holes in 4 under par — and made five birdies overall — to finish day 1 just one stroke out of the lead, held jointly by August Kim of Purdue and Haley Moore of Arizona.
Kupcho has certainly been on a roll of late. In addition to qualifying — and earning Sectional medalist honors — for the U.S. Women’s Open Monday at Heritage at Westmoor, her last three college finishes have been second, second and sixth, with one of the runner-ups coming at the ACC Championships.
The Coloradan is 43rd in both the Women’s World Amateur Golf Rankings, and in Golfweek’s national women’s college rankings.
Kupcho will play at least three rounds, but if she finishes 54 holes among the top nine individuals not on one of the top 15 teams that make the cut, she’ll play a fourth and final round on Monday. That’s when the individual champion will be determined.
For all the scores from the Women’s DI Finals, CLICK HERE.
