Paige Spiranac currently has 1.3 million followers on Instagram and 179,000 on Twitter, and she can trace her meteoric rise on social media to something she experienced at Raccoon Creek Golf Course in Littleton on July 9, 2015.
That was the day that Spiranac won the 100th CWGA Match Play Championship at Raccoon Creek. In the scheduled 36-hole final of that milestone CWGA event, Spiranac played stellar golf, finishing 9 under par for 35 holes in outdueling University of Colorado golfer Brittany Fan 2 and 1 for the title.
It was a triumphant return to Colorado for Spiranac (at left on that day), who grew up in the Centennial State and won the 2010 CWGA Junior Stroke Play as well as the 2006 CJGA Tournament of Champions. (As a pro, Spiranac finished ninth in the 2016 CoBank Colorado Women’s Open; pictured below.)
While a story with pictures on the CWGA Match Play victory appeared on the CWGA and CGA websites that day in 2015, there were other things going on.
According to a recent article in azcentral.com, the digital home of The Arizona Republic newspaper, “She picked up her first individual win in years, and checked her phone as she walked off the course, assuming the stream of texts was to congratulate her. Then she checked Instagram.
“Thousands of people had followed her. As she searched for explanation, a friend texted her a link to an article on (name redacted) a website devoted to frat parties and college girls. Spiranac clicked the link. The bro-targeted site had declared, “The Whole World Is About To Fall In Love With Paige Spiranac,” complete with a dozen photos and a link to her Instagram account.
“… Thousands of more people found her and followed Spiranac. She told her sister she just wanted a ‘K,’ to see her follower count tick from ‘9,999’ to ’10K.’ That happened in a few hours. Then it kept climbing.
“Twenty-thousand. Fifty. By the next day, she had more than 100,000 followers.”
Since then, the numbers have kept skyrocketing. But Spiranac has become adept at making the numbers work in her favor.
Golf Digest put her on the cover of its magazine in May 2016, an issue that featured “innovators and infuencers changing the game.”
As an attractive social media sensation and professional golfer, Spiranac often makes public appearances (including at the PGA Tour’s Waste Management Phoenix Open last week), does some modeling, is a brand ambassador for PXG, and speaks out publicly about cyberbullying and its effects.
And this week, Sports Illustrated announced that Spiranac will be among those featured in its 2018 Swimsuit Issue. Included is a story entitled, “Paige Spiranac Is Using Her Platform as an SI Swimsuit Model to Fight Cyberbullying”. For that article, CLICK HERE.
In connection with that topic, Spiranac serves as an ambassador for the Cybersmile Foundation, a non-profit that works to battle cyberbullying.
“It still hasn’t hit me that I’m going to be in the 2018 @SI_Swimsuit issue,” Spiranac wrote on Twitter on Tuesday. “But thank you for listening to my story and why I’m so passionate about stopping cyberbullying!”
Spiranac was born in Colorado and lived in the state full-time until she was 13. Then she split time between Arizona and Colorado until she went to San Diego State as a student-athlete.
Kim Eaton has competed in scores of CWGA championships since her first one in 1972. Emily Gilbreth just made her CWGA debut.
But the two have at least one thing in common regarding the golf association: They both emerged as champions in the 102nd CWGA Match Play on Thursday at Buffalo Run Golf Course in Commerce City.
Gilbreth (left), who just moved to Denver in April after spending her whole life in Houston, claimed the championship flight title, while Eaton, a Colorado Golf Hall of Famer who now lives in Mesa, Ariz., earned her fourth senior division championship in this event.
Gilbreth, a 22-year-old former University of Houston golfer who is planning to compete in LPGA Q-school starting late this summer, defeated Regis University golfer Maddie Kern 6 and 4 in Thursday’s scheduled 36-hole final to hit pay dirt in her first CWGA event.
“Golf is this huge grind,” said Gilbreth, who plays out of Highlands Ranch Golf Club. “This is pretty rewarding for me. It feels really good especially because match play is a difficult format.”
And Eaton, who will turn 58 in a couple of weeks, fended off 2014 champion Deb Hughes of Green Valley Ranch Golf Club 3 and 2 in the 18-hole senior championship final. It marked the 23rd CWGA title of Eaton’s career, leaving her just two shy of Carol Flenniken’s record in that regard.
“I’m doing it,” Eaton (left) said of a full-bore pursuit of Flenniken’s mark. “I’m going to keep coming back. That’s my goal now.”
In the overall championship flight, Kern built an early 2-up lead after parring the first four holes. But Gilbreth won the next three — going birdie (from 40 feet), birdie, par — to take the lead for good.
Following a bogey on the 15th hole, which left her 2 up, Gilbreth parred each of her final 17 holes of the match. On the 32nd and final hole, that included a save from 15 feet after her approach went over the green. Kern, who started on a state championship-winning basketball team at Broomfield High School, took a double bogey on that last hole after hitting twice into deep native grass.
“There was a long putt I made for birdie on 5, and I got some momentum there,” Gilbreth said. “Later, I made something ridiculous like 17 pars in a row. I just got into the zone. I got the (yardage) number, pulled the club and just hit it.”
For Gilbreth (below), the Match Play victory was an individual success after she spent much of the last four years as part of a college team that grew by leaps and bounds. When Houston added a women’s golf program in 2013, Gilbreth was among the players on the Cougars’ first roster. Three years later, they won a conference championship.
As for Kern, she was disappointed at not winning the title, but happy she made it as far as she did.
“I had a great start. Everything was going really well,” she said. “I just had one off shot (early in the round that went way right) that 
kind of threw the rest of the game off. Unfortunately, that carried with me a little too long. After playing great the first three days, it’s not exactly how I wanted it to end, but it was a great experience being out here.
“Coming here I was not expecting to make it all the way (to the finals). But it’s definitely a good feeling knowing I have it in me to make it and play well.”
In the senior championship, the title match was all square through five. But Eaton won the last four holes of the front nine with a birdie and three pars. Hughes, the 2016 CWGA Senior Stroke Play winner, cut the deficit to 2 down when Eaton three-putted 13 and Hughes came up with nice up-and-down for par on 14.
But Eaton, a four-time quarterfinalist in the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur and a seven-time CWGA Senior Player of the Year, responded with a 6-foot birdie on No. 15, where Hughes lipped out her birdie pitch. Then on No. 16, Eaton won the match despite shanking her third shot as Hughes conceded a 3 1/2-foot bogey putt that halved the hole.
“I haven’t had much competition in the last month and a half so I was very anxious to get here,” said Eaton (below). “I kind of thrive on competition. After the qualifying round, I played mediocre. I thought, ‘Maybe I’m getting to the point I don’t want to do this anymore.’ But yesterday Tiffany (Maurycy in the semifinals) brought it out in me. We had a great match. I was 4 under after the 17th hole and she was 2 under (when Eaton won 2 and 1). I made a couple of birdies on top of her.
“I didn’t putt very well at all today. That’s probably because putted very well yesterday and I used them all up. I didn’t hit the ball as well either. But sometimes you play to the level you need to play to win.”
Besides about a dozen state championships in Arizona and one in California, Eaton’s resume in Colorado includes the following CWGA titles: Stroke Play (four), Match Play (one), Junior Match Play (one), Senior Match Play (four), Senior Stroke Play (four), as well as team titles in the Brassie (six), Chapman (one), Mashie (one) and Mixed (one).
Despite all that success her opponent has had, Hughes certainly wasn’t playing for second on Thursday.
“I came in expecting to win the match. I really did,” the 59-year-old said. “I faced Kim last year (in the Match Play). During that match, I wanted to learn about her, hoping I’d face her this year in the championship, which ended up happening. I came closer than I’ve ever come (to beating her on Thursday). And I know I can do it. She won’t like me saying this, but I know I can beat her. I’ve just got to keep working at it.”
CWGA Match Play Finals
At Buffalo Run GC in Commerce City
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
Championship (36 Holes)
Emily Gilbreth def. Maddie Kern, 6 and 4
Consolation
Erin Sargent def. Katrina Prendergast, 3 and 2
SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
Championship
Kim Eaton def. Deb Hughes, 3 and 2
Consolation
Nancy Ziereis def. Meghan Christensen, 3 and 2
FIRST FLIGHT
Championship
Jessica Sloot def. Sydney Gillespie, 6 and 5
Consolation
Samantha Barker def. Ashlyn Kirschner, 1 up
SECOND FLIGHT
Championship
Julia Baroth def. Jenna Chun, 4 and 3
Consolation
Kelsey Webster def. Jamie Zook, 5 and 4
THIRD FLIGHT
Championship
Tabitha Diehl def. Mariah Ehrman, 3 and 1
Consolation
Nancy Werkmeister def. Dee Baker, 2 up
FOURTH FLIGHT
Championship
Katherine Hollern def. Jennifer Cassell, concession
Consolation
Margi Batal def. Karen Chase, 4 and 3
FIFTH FLIGHT
Championship
Molly Lange def. Joanne Kates, 1 up
Consolation
Lea Croghan def. Teresa Smiley, 2 and 1
For all the CWGA Match Play brackets, CLICK HERE.
]]>Kern, a Regis sophomore-to-be who plays out of Hyland Hills, beat Montana State’s Tait 1 up in Wednesday’s semifinals. Kern took the lead with a birdie on No. 15, then halved the final three holes by going par-par-birdie.
Gilbreth advanced with a 2 and 1 semifinal victory over University of Denver golfer Weinstein. Weinstein took the first hole with a par, but Gilbreth won four of the next five to take charge. Weinstein, the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado’s 2016 Girls Player of the Year, birdied 12 and 13 to get back to 1 down, but Gilbreth went birdie-par-par to close out the match.
In the senior championship flight, two past champs won their matches on Wednesday and will meet in Thursday’s 18-hole final.
Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton, the defending champion who’s seeking her fourth senior title in the Match Play, and 2014 champ Deb Hughes of Green Valley Ranch Golf Club advanced.
Eaton “” winner in 2010, ’13 and ’16 “” scored a 2 and 1 semifinal victory Wednesday over Tiffany Maurycy of Cherry Creek Country Club. Eaton, a four-time quarterfinalist in the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur, never trailed in the match but was just 1 up through 15. However, a birdie on 16 and a par on 17 closed things out.
Hughes, winner of the 2016 CWGA Senior Stroke Play, defeated Colorado Golf Hall of Famer and 2007 champion Christie Austin of Cherry Hills Country Club 4 and 3 in the other semi. After being 1 down through five, Hughes won the next three holes “” going birdie-par-par “” to take a lead she wouldn’t relinquish.
In Thursday’s 36-hole championship flight final, Kern and Gilbreth will tee off at 7:30 a.m., while Eaton and Hughes will begin their senior championship title match at 9:06 a.m.
For results from all seven flights, click on the following:
]]>Tait (pictured), a Montana State golfer who lost in the finals of last year’s CWGA Match Play to Jennifer Kupcho, scored a 4-and-3 victory in Tuesday afternoon’s quarterfinals over University of Wyoming golfer Megan Knadler. Earlier in the day, Knadler rallied from being 2 down after five holes to defeat qualifying medalist Katrina Prendergast, a Colorado State University golfer, 2 and 1.
Weinstein, the 2016 Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado’s 2016 Girls Player of the Year and a University of Denver golfer, defeated CSU women’s head coach Annie Young in 19 holes in the quarterfinals. Young, the 2002 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links champ, was 2 up through 10, but had to birdie the 18th hole to square the match. Then Weinstein parred the first extra hole to advance.
Tait will meet Kern and Weinstein will face Gilbreth in Wednesday’s semifinals.
Meanwhile, three former champions advanced on Tuesday to the final four in the senior championship flight.
Colorado Golf Hall of Famers Christie Austin and Kim Eaton easily won quarterfinal matches on Tuesday, and will be joined in Wednesday’s semifinals by 2014 winner Deb Hughes from Green Valley Ranch Golf Club and second-seeded Tiffany Maurycy of Cherry Creek Country Club. In the semis, Austin will face Hughes and Eaton will meet Maurycy.
Austin, the qualifying medalist and 2007 champion, defeated Katty Rothberg of Cherry Creek CC 6 and 5 on Tuesday. Eaton, a three-time senior winner of the Match Play and a four-time quarterfinalist in the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur, scored a 7-and-6 win over Jennifer Hocking of Colorado Springs Country Club on Tuesday.
Hughes edged Meghan Christensen of The Club at Cordillera in 19 holes, winning the last two holes with pars to advance. Maurycy beat Nancy Ziereis of Valley Country Club, 5 and 4.
The semifinals for all seven flights, including championship and senior championship, will be held on Wednesday, with the finals set for Thursday. The championship flight title match will be a 36-hole affair, with each other finale being 18 holes.
For results, click on the following:
]]>Prendergast, who has qualified for both the 2016 and ’17 U.S. Women’s Amateur, made five birdies and a double bogey to earn the top seed in the 16-person championship bracket.
Two rounds of match play are scheduled for Tuesday, with the semifinals set for Wednesday and the 36-hole final for Thursday.
Mary Weinstein of CommonGround Golf Course, a University of Denver golfer who was named the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado’s 2016 Girls Player of the Year, was the only other player to post a sub-par round Monday as she managed a 2-under 70 that featured four birdies. (The top two qualifiers are pictured, from left, Prendergast and Weinstein.)
Carding 72s on Monday were Anna Christenson of Highlands Ranch Golf Club and former University of Houston golfer Emily Gilbreth. Likewise among those advancing to the championship flight bracket on Monday was Jaylee Tait of Raccoon Creek Golf Course, a finalist in last year’s CWGA Match Play who shot 73 on Monday. Jennifer Kupcho, who won Match Play titles in 2014 and ’16, isn’t in the field this year after finishing 21st in the U.S. Women’s Open on Sunday.
In the senior championship flight, 2007 champion and 2016 runner-up Christie Austin of Cherry Hills Country Club landed medalist honors with an even-par 72 on Monday. The Colorado Golf Hall of Famer carded three birdies and three bogeys.
Tiffany Maurycy of Cherry Creek Country Club made three birdies en route to a 73 on Monday. Three-time champion and 2016 winner Kim Eaton, a Colorado Golf Hall of Famer, recorded a 74 to place third in stroke play in the senior championship flight.
For the senior championship, eight players will begin match play on Tuesday, with the semis scheduled for Wednesday and an 18-hole final for Thursday.
Match play will also begin Tuesday for the other flights.
CWGA Match Play
At Par-72 Buffalo Run GC in Commerce City
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT QUALIFIERS
Katrina Prendergast, The Resort at Red Hawk 35-34″“69
Mary Weinstein, CommonGround Wgc 37-33″“70
Anna Christenson, Highlands Ranch Wga 37-35″“72
Emily Gilbreth, Hermann Park GC 36-36″“72
Annie Young, Ptarmigan CC Wga 35-38″“73
Caitlyn Skavdahl, Casper CC 35-38″“73
Delaney Elliott, Omni Interlocken WGA 38-35″“73
Erin Sargent, Twin Peaks LGA 35-38″“73
Jaylee Tait, Raccoon Creek WGA 36-37″“73
Jennifer Hankins, Thorncreek Wga 40-34″“74
Madison McCambridge, Boulder CC Wga 39-35″“74
Emilee Strausburg, The Club at Rolling Hills Wga 39-36″“75
Kaylee Knadler, Loveland Wga 38-37″“75
Maddie Kern, Hyland Hills Wga 38-37″“75
Tori Glenn, Ridge at Castle Pines N Wga 38-37″“75
Megan Knadler, Loveland Wga 37-39″”76
Also
Jessica Sloot, Oakridge CC 39-37″“76
Samantha Barker, Perry Park CC Wga 40-36″“76
Calli Ringsby, Denver CC Lga 41-36″“77
Sydney Gillespie, Highlands Ranch Wga 38-39″“77
Jordan Remley, Indian Tree Wga 40-39″“79
Jacquelin Biggs, South Suburban Family Sports 39-41″“80
Jenna Chun, Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado 40-40″“80
Julia Baroth, Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado 42-38″“80
Kacey Godwin, CommonGround Wgc 40-40″“80
Mariah Ehrman, Walnut Creek Golf Preserve Wga 40-41″“81
Sarah Hankins, Thorncreek Wga 41-40″“81
Delaney Benson, CommonGround WGC 41-41″“82
Kylee Sullivan, CC of Colorado WGA 45-37″“82
Tabitha Diehl, Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado 41-41″“82
Ashlyn Kirschner, West Woods Wgc 42-41″“83
Janet Moore, Cherry Hills CC Wga 42-41″“83
Joanna Ringsby, Denver CC Lga 38-45″“83
Jamie Zook, Colorado Springs CC 45-42″“87
Kelsey Webster, Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado 48-41″”89
SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT QUALIFIERS
Christie Austin, Cherry Hills CC Wga 36-36″“72
Tiffany Maurycy, Cherry Creek CC Wga 36-37″“73
Kim Eaton, Riverdale Wga 38-36″“74
Deb Hughes, Green Valley Ranch Wga 35-41″“76
Meghan Christensen, Cordillera Wga Valley 39-41″“80
Jennifer Hocking, Colorado Springs CC Lga 41-40″“81
Nancy Ziereis, Valley CC Wga 41-43″“84
Katty Rothberg, Cherry Creek CC Wga 47-41″”88
Also
Beverly Hoffenberg, Columbine CC Lga 43-45″“88
Dee Baker, Eisenhower Wga 44-45″“89
Nancy Werkmeister, Foothills Wga 43-47″“90
Lea Croghan, Spring Valley Wga 46-49″“95
]]>The 102nd CWGA Match Play will be contested Monday through Thursday (July 17-20) at Buffalo Run Golf Course in Commerce City. A stroke-play qualifying round is set for Monday, and match play will run Tuesday through Thursday.
What’s significantly different this time around is the absence of Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster, who’s won the Match Play two of the last three years and was a semifinalist in 2015. Overall, she’s captured four consecutive CWGA majors (Stroke Play and Match Play).
But the No. 10-ranked women’s amateur in the world is competing in her second consecutive U.S. Women’s Open this week — she made the cut this year — and the Canadian Women’s Amateur (July 25-28) is next on the agenda.
That spells opportunity for the 35 championship flight players at Buffalo Run. None of those competitors in the open championship flight have won this title before, but that will obviously change come Thursday.
Among the top golfers entered are Colorado State University player Katrina Prendergast, who’s qualified for the 2016 and ’17 U.S. Women’s Amateur; Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Janet Moore; Mary Weinstein, the 2016 Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado Girls Player of the Year and 2017 U.S. Women’s Am qualifier; 2015 U.S. Women’s Am qualifier Erin Sargent; and 2016 Match Play runner-up Jaylee Tait.
The senior championship flight will feature a former open-division champion, 2004 winner Kim Eaton. The Colorado Golf Hall of Famer has won the senior title in this event three times (2010, ’13 and ’16). Also among the dozen seniors entered are another Colorado Golf Hall of Famer, Christie Austin, the senior runner-up last year and the 2007 champion; and 2014 winner and 2016 CWGA Senior Stroke Play champ Deb Hughes.
The open championship bracket will feature 16 players, with two rounds of match play planned for Tuesday and a 36-hole final on Thursday. The senior championship bracket will include eight competitors. Players not qualifying for those brackets — and those not playing in Monday’s stroke play — will compete in a handicap flights.
For Monday’s pairings, CLICK HERE.
To finish up her freshman season of college golf at Wake Forest, the Westminster resident finished second at the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship, seventh in the NCAA Stanford Regional, and sixth in the Women’s NCAA Finals.
And back in Colorado, she qualified for her first U.S. Women’s Open and won two CWGA championships in the course of eight days.
The second of those victories came on Thursday when the 19-year-old dominated in the final to win her second CWGA Match Play, this one the 101st version of the tourament, at Aurora Hills Golf Course.
“Jennifer is just such a special player,” noted Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Christie Austin, who watched her compete in the Women’s NCAA Finals and will be on hand next month at the U.S. Women’s Open.
In Thursday’s scheduled 36-hole title match that ended before noon, Kupcho (left and above) warmed up for her U.S. Women’s Open appearance with a 12-and-10 victory over Jaylee Tait of Littleton.
The margin was the largest in a CWGA Match Play final in at least the last decade, before which records aren’t complete.
Kupcho last week won the CWGA Mashie team event with University of Colorado golfer Gillian Vance, who Kupcho defeated in the Match Play semifinals. Overall, Kupcho has captured six CWGA championships, including the 2014 and ’16 Match Plays and the 2015 Stroke Play. She was the CWGA Player of the Year in both 2014 and ’15.
“It’s definitely awesome,” she said of her latest win. “The field was full of college players so that was exciting. And I love match play, so to win this for the second time was neat.”
On Thursday, Kupcho was 9 under par through the 26 holes and didn’t make a bogey. By her round-by-round recollection, she was 31 under par for 89 holes this week at Aurora Hills, including the 18-hole stroke-play qualifier.
“I like going under par,” Kupcho said with a smile. “In college it’s definitely harder to go under par. To come here and be able to do that is a lot of fun.
“I’ve definitely seen my game improve since I’ve gone to college. (Recent accomplishments) are just a continuation of everything.”
Against Tait (left), a Montana State golfer who qualified for the 2014 U.S. Women’s Amateur, Kupcho was 8 up through 18 holes and closed things out with a two-putt birdie on the eighth hole of the second round.
“I just didn’t make enough birdies (one),” said the 20-year-old Tait, who placed third in the Big Sky Conference tournament this spring. “She played really well and she’s hitting it really well.
“I didn’t birdie any of the (seven) par-5s through 26 holes — and they’re not playing very long. That was my weakness. I think (Kupcho) birdied almost all of them (five of the seven), so I gave up a lot there. And she was making putts when she was outside of me.”
Tait’s older sister, Ashley, who won the 2008 CWGA Stroke Play, also lost in a CWGA Match Play final, falling to Chelsey Collins in 2009.
To see all the championship and consolation brackets from the CWGA Match Play, CLICK HERE.
To read about the CWGA Senior Match Play finals, CLICK HERE.
CWGA Match Play Finals
Thursday at Aurora Hills GC
Championship Flight
36-Hole Championship — Jennifer Kupcho def. Jaylee Tait, 12 and 10
Consolation — Delaney Elliott def. Klara Castillo, 2 and 1
Senior Championship Flight
Championship — Kim Eaton def. Christie Austin, 6 and 4
Consolation — Kelly Martin def. Jennifer Hocking, 3 and 2
First Flight
Championship — Mariah Ehrman def. Candace Meyers, 4 and 2
Consolation — Michelle Romano def. Suzy Leprino, 1 up
Second Flight
Championship — Sharon Thiel def. Lea Croghan, 19 holes
Consolation — Jennifer Cassell def. Karin Hathaway, 6 and 4
Third Flight
Championship — Rose Rismanchi def. Becky Finger, 2 up
Consolation — Lori Maul def. Amy Hicks, 5 and 4
Meanwhile, two Colorado Golf Hall of Famers will square off for the senior championship flight crown as Kim Eaton and Christie Austin prevailed in Wednesday’s semifinals. Eaton, a two-time Senior Match Play champ, defeated 2014 senior winner Deb Hughes 6 and 5, while Austin overcame defending champ Lynn Zmistowski 3 and 2.
In a matchup of champion teammates from last week’s CWGA Mashie, Kupcho (pictured) beat University of Colorado golfer Gillian Vance on Wednesday in the open division, while Tait advanced with a victory over Brigham Young University golfer Anna Kennedy.
Kupcho, the 2014 and ’15 CWGA Player of the Year, in the last month and a half has qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open and finished sixth in the Women’s NCAA Finals as a Wake Forest freshman. Kupcho won the CWGA Match Play title in 2014.
Tait, younger sister of 2008 CWGA Stroke Play champion Ashley Tait, qualified for the 2014 U.S. Women’s Amateur and currently plays golf for Montana State.
In the senior final, two multiple winners of the CWGA Senior Player of the Year honor will meet. Eaton, a three-time quarterfinalist in the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur, has earned the Senior POY award five times and Austin twice. Eaton was also CWGA Player of the Year four times.
The title matches in the championship flight, the senior championship flight and the three handicap flights are all scheduled for Thursday. To see all the championship and consolation brackets, CLICK HERE.
]]>Two other college golfers from Colorado, Anna Kennedy (Brigham Young University) and Jaylee Tait (Montana State) will meet in the other semi after two victories each on Tuesday. Kennedy was the 15th seed out of the 16 players who made the championship flight.
Kupcho, the U.S. Women’s Open qualifier from Wake Forest who shot 65 to earn medalist honors on Monday, scored 3-and-2 wins over both Taylor Dorans and Calli Ringsby on Tuesday. Vance, a former state high school champion who now plays for the University of Colorado, prevailed in a 19-hole quarterfinal over Kylee Sullivan to advance. (Kupcho and Vance are pictured together last week, with Kupcho at right.)
Tait prevailed 1 up in the quarters over former 5A state champ Mackenzie Cohen, while Kennedy posted a 7-and-5 win over Calli Gallacher.
In the quarterfinals of the senior championship flight, each of the top three seeds — all Colorado Golf Hall of Famers — won on Tuesday, including defending champion Lynn Zmistowski. Also advancing to Wednesday’s senior semifinals were top-seeded Kim Eaton, a two-time senior champ; 2007 senior winner Christie Austin, and 2014 senior champ Deb Hughes, the fifth seed.
Eaton will face Hughes and Zmistowski will take on Austin in the semis.
The title matches in the championship flight, the senior championship flight and the three handicap flights are all scheduled for Thursday. To see all the brackets, CLICK HERE.
]]>The 2014 and ’15 CWGA Player of the Year played her last eight holes in 5 under par to land the top spot in the 16-player championship bracket. Kupcho (pictured), the Wake Forest freshman who finished sixth last month in the Women’s NCAA Finals, won the CWGA Match Play in 2014.
No other player finished at par or better on Monday. Mackenzie Cohen, the former 5A state high school champion who placed third in this year’s Women’s NCAA Division III Finals, and Sydney Gillespie each carded a 73 to share second place in the stroke-play qualifier. The match-play portion of the event will begin on Tuesday and both the round of 16 and the quarterfinals will be contested on that day.
In the senior championship flight, Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton led the way Monday with a 2-over-par 74. Eaton, winner of the CWGA Match Play once and the Senior Match Play twice, overcame a triple-bogey on the 13th hole to earn senior medalist honors.
Next best in the senior flight Monday were two other Colorado Golf Hall of Famers, defending champion Lynn Zmistowski (77) and 2007 senior champ Christie Austin (79). CWGA board member Laurie Steenrod, a former winner in both the Match Play and Senior Match Play, earned the eighth and final spot in the senior championship bracket via a playoff with Suzy Leprino that lasted five holes. Steenrod will face Eaton in Tuesday’s quarterfinals.
While the 16-person championship flight and the eight-person senior championship flight will be played at scratch, there will also be three flights which compete while utlizing their handicaps.
The title matches in each division is scheduled for Thursday.
For the various match-play brackets, CLICK HERE.
Here are the scores from Monday’s stroke-play qualifying:
Championship Flight
Jennifer Kupcho, CommonGround WGC 34-31–65
Sydney Gillespie, Highlands Ranch Wga 38-35–73
Mackenzie Cohen, Inverness Lga 37-36–73
Kylee Sullivan, CC of Colorado WGA 38-36–74
Gillian Vance, CommonGround WGA 37-37–74
Klara Castillo, Kennedy Lga 38-38–76
Ashlyn Kirschner, West Woods Wgc 38-38–76
Janet Moore, Cherry Hills CC Wga 37-39–76
Calli Ringsby, Denver CC Lga 38-38–76
Calli Gallacher, Cherry Hills CC Wga 36-41–77
Jaylee Tait, Raccoon Creek WGA 40-37–77
Delaney Elliott, CommonGround WGA 41-37–78
Courtney Ewing, Desert Hawk Pueblo West Wga 41-38–79
Sarah Hankins, Thorncreek Wga 38-41–79
Anna Kennedy, Denver CC Lga 39-40–79
Taylor Dorans, Eagle Trace Lga 42-37–79
Megan Vernon, Applewood Wga 43-40–83
Michelle Romano, Colorado Golf Club Wga 41-44–85
Megan McCambridge, Boulder CC Wga 45-41–86
Mariah Ehrman, Heritage at Westmoor WGA 40-50–90
Joanna Ringsby, Denver CC Lga WD
Senior Championship Flight
Kim Eaton, Riverdale Wga 36-38–74
Lynn Zmistowski, Willis Case Wga 38-39–77
Christie Austin, Cherry Hills CC Wga 37-42–79
Jennifer Hocking, Colorado Springs CC Lga 39-41–80
Deb Hughes, Green Valley Ranch Wga 40-40–80
Louise Lyle, Patty Jewett Wgc 41-40–81
Kelly Martin, Fox Hollow Lgc 38-43–81
Laurie Steenrod, Saddle Rock Wga 42-40–82
Suzy Leprino, Lakewood CC Wga 42-40–82
Kathy Malpass, Hiwan Wga 45-38–83
Katty Rothberg, Cherry Creek CC Wga 44-43–87
]]>