The two Westminster residents went undefeated in alternate shot match play to win the round-robin competition in the four-team Midwest group.

Then in the single-elimination knockout stage, Kupcho and Bear defeated a team from Atlanta 140-124 in the quarterfinals (in a competition dubbed TopShot Advanced) before losing to eventual national champions Virginia Beach 169-84 in the semifinals. Virginia Beach defeated San Antonio in the finals to win $50,000.

Kupcho and Baer had won the regional Topgolf Tour title in August at the Topgolf location in Centennial. (The two are pictured above, with Baer at left.)

Kupcho, a former University of Northern Colorado golfer, was the CGA’s Les Fowler Player of the Year in 2012, the year he won the CGA Stroke Play, now known as the CGA Amateur. Kupcho is the older brother of Jennifer Kupcho, currently the top player on the women’s college golfer of the year watch list. Baer, who played his college golf at Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles, made it to the round of 16 at the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship in May with teammate Cole Nygren.
 

Soule (left) earned medalist honors in Thursday’s third of four Colorado Open qualifiers, leading the way for 14 players who advanced to the championship, including seven from Colorado.

Soule, a 32-year-old former low-amateur in the Colorado Open, made eight birdies and shot a 7-under-par 64 Thursday at Legacy Ridge Golf Course in Westminster.

Other Coloradans who advanced to the Open — set for July 21-24 at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in northeast Denver — were Bryan Hackenberg of Thornton (67), Jacob Lestishen of Lone Tree (68), Braden Baer of Westminster (69), amateurs Sam Marley of Centennial and Pierce Aichinger of Cherry Hills Village (both 69), and Jason Johnson of Westminster (70, then prevailed in a playoff).

Joining them in qualifying Thursday were James Vargas of Windermere, Fla. (67), Ty Capps of Palm Coast, Fla. (67), Paul Imondi of Tustin, Calif. (68), Daniel Balin of Rockville, Md. (68), Brett Paquet of Chandler, Ariz. (69), Charlie Kern of Mercer Island, Wash. (69) and Robert Bell of Pierz, Minn. (70)

One player who didn’t advance was Johnny DelPrete of Palm City, Fla., who shot a 72 while his girlfriend, Jessica Korda, caddied for him on Thursday. Korda is currently sits No. 24 in the women’s world golf rankings.

For roundups from the two previous qualifiers for the $250,000 Colorado Open, click on the following: No. 1, No. 2.

For scores from Thursday’s qualifier, CLICK HERE.

The run of the former SMU teammates ended in Tuesday’s quarterfinals of the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship, where Otto Black and Colin Joseph scored a 2-up victory at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, N.Y.

The match was all square through 15 holes, but Black and Joseph posted hole-winning birdies at the 16th and 18th holes — sandwiched around both teams making a bogey on No. 17 — to advance to the semifinals.

Earlier, in the round of 16, Buecking and Enloe needed a late rally to advance. They were 2 down after 16 to Frankie Capan and Shuai Ming Wong, but won the next three holes to win in 19. Buecking and Enloe went par-birdie-birdie on those last three to prevail. Their only lead was after the 19th hole.

Meanwhile, Braden Baer of Westminster and Cole Nygren of Longmont were ousted in a close round-of-16 match on Tuesday morning.

Brandon Cigna and Ben Warnquist parred the 18th hole to beat Baer and Nygren 1 up. Baer and Nygren, who were 2 up through 12, bogeyed the 18th.

For results from the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball, CLICK HERE.

Here are the weekend stroke-play scores for all the teams with major Colorado ties who were in the field:

Advanced to Match Play
7. Alex Buecking (Columbine Valley)/Jason Enloe (Dallas) 64-68–132 (lost in quarters)
22. Braden Baer (Westminster)/Cole Nygren (Longmont) 64-72–136 (lost in R16)
22. Tom Hart (Denver)/Jonathan Marsico (Denver) 70-66–136 (lost in R32)

Failed to Qualify for Match Play
65. Former CSU golfer Jeff Fujimoto/Patrick Moore (Scottsdale, Ariz.) 72-69–141
89. Kyle Danford (Fort Collins) /David Johnson (Fort Collins) 73-70–143
118. Benjamin Sherlund (Denver)/Zach Fowlds (Lone Tree) 72-76–148
 

Alex Buecking of Columbine Valley and his former SMU teammate Jason Enloe of Dallas scored a 3-and-2 victory in the match play round of 32 over Brent Roof and Paul Tucker.

Buecking and Enloe, seeded seventh, were all square with their opponents through 11, but hole-winning birdies on 12 and 16 and a hole-winning par on 14 turned the match quickly.

Also winning their opening match were Braden Baer of Westminster and Cole Nygren of Longmont, who posted a 2-and-1 win over Andrew Orischak and Doc Redman. After making a birdie on the sixth hole Monday, Baer and Nygren led the rest of the way.

Buecking and Enloe, and Baer and Nygren will play their round-of-16 matches on Tuesday morning.

Meanwhile, falling on Monday in the round of 32 was the team of Tom Hart and Jonathan Marsico of Denver, who were ousted 5 and 4 by Drew Allenspach and Matthew Van Zandt.

For all of the round-of-32 results, CLICK HERE.

Here are the weekend stroke-play scores for all the teams with major Colorado ties who were in the field:

Advanced to Match Play
7. Alex Buecking (Columbine Valley)/Jason Enloe (Dallas) 64-68–132
22. Braden Baer (Westminster)/Cole Nygren (Longmont) 64-72–136
22. Tom Hart (Denver)/Jonathan Marsico (Denver) 70-66–136 (lost in R32)
Failed to Qualify for Match Play
65. Former CSU golfer Jeff Fujimoto/Patrick Moore (Scottsdale, Ariz.) 72-69–141
89. Kyle Danford (Fort Collins) /David Johnson (Fort Collins) 73-70–143
118. Benjamin Sherlund (Denver)/Zach Fowlds (Lone Tree) 72-76–148
 

Alex Buecking of Columbine Valley and Jason Enloe of Dallas — former SMU teammates — placed seventh out of 128 teams. Their 8-under-par 132 total (64-68) was six strokes behind medalists Brandon Matthews and Patrick Ross of Pennsylvania.

Others Coloradans making match play were Tom Hart of Jonathan Marsico of Denver (70-66-136, 22nd place) and Braden Baer of Westminster and Cole Nygren of Longmont (64-72–136, 22nd place).

The round-of-32 matches will take place on Monday.

Here are the stroke-play scores for all the teams with major Colorado ties who were in the field:

Advance to Match Play
7. Alex Buecking (Columbine Valley)/Jason Enloe (Dallas) 64-68–132
22. Braden Baer (Westminster)/Cole Nygren (Longmont) 64-72–136
22. Tom Hart (Denver)/Jonathan Marsico (Denver) 70-66–136

Failed to Qualify for Match Play
65. Former CSU golfer Jeff Fujimoto/Patrick Moore (Scottsdale, Ariz.) 72-69–141
89. Kyle Danford (Fort Collins) /David Johnson (Fort Collins) 73-70–143
118. Benjamin Sherlund (Denver)/Zach Fowlds (Lone Tree) 72-76–148

Meanwhile, at the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball in Streamsong, Fla., the only Coloradan in the field, Tiffany Maurycy of Denver, who teamed up with Amy Ellertson of Charlottesville, Va., failed to advance to match play on Sunday.

With stroke-play scores of 74-80 for a 10-over-par 154 total, the two tied for 57th place. The top 32 teams made it to match play.
 

Braden Baer of Westminster and Cole Nygren of Longmont fired a 6-under-par 64, as did Alex Buecking of Columbine Valley and Jason Enloe of Dallas, the SMU men’s golf coach (the two were teammates at SMU). That leaves both teams in a tie for fifth place, two out of the lead.

After Sunday’s second round, the top 32 teams will advance to match play.

Buecking made three birdies in four holes on the back nine Saturday, holing a 40-yard shot and a 50-foot putt in the process.

“Every time I went over and hugged him and said, ‘thanks,'” Enloe told USGA.org. “We had three big group hugs over the last five holes.”

Nygren and Baer likewise totaled seven birdies on the day.

Here are the scores for all the teams with major Colorado ties who are in the field:

5. Alex Buecking (Columbine Valley)/Jason Enloe (Dallas) 64
5. Braden Baer (Westminster)/Cole Nygren (Longmont) 64
57. Tom Hart (Denver)/Jonathan Marsico (Denver) 70
84. Benjamin Sherlund (Denver)/Zach Fowlds (Lone Tree) 72
84. Former CSU golfer Jeff Fujimoto/Patrick Moore (Scottsdale, Ariz.) 72
97. Kyle Danford (Fort Collins) /David Johnson (Fort Collins) 73

Meanwhile, the only team in the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball in Streamsong, Fla., that features a Coloradan is in 46th place after Saturday’s opening round.

Tiffany Maurycy of Denver teamed up with Amy Ellertson of Charlottesville, Va., to fire a 2-over-par 74. After making two birdies on Saturday, they’ll need to climb into the top 32 after Sunday’s second round to advance to match play.