Both University of Denver teams will be in action before the month ends, and by this time in Feburary all nine NCAA Division I programs based in Colorado will have started their spring schedules. The DU women, recently picked to finish No. 1 in the Summit League by its coaches, will be the first local team to tee it up in competition as the Pioneers will face Arizona State and Georgia in a three-school match on Sunday (Jan. 27) in Gold Canyon, Ariz.

This spring will be notable in several respects from a Colorado perspective, including:

— Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster will be defending her NCAA Division I women’s individual title in May as a Wake Forest senior before she begins her LPGA Tour career. This week, Kupcho regained the No. 1 spot in the Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking, a position she held for 15 weeks in 2018.

— Former University of Colorado golfer Robyn Choi, who qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open in the Centennial State the past two years, likewise earned her LPGA Tour card in November through her performance in the Q-Series. But, unlike Kupcho, Choi elected to forego her remaining college eligibility to join the LPGA circuit as soon as possible. That will leave CU without its top player going into the spring.

“That’s a tough one to lose, but it’s exciting she gets to start her LPGA career,” CU coach Anne Kelly said recently on CUBuffs.com regarding Choi.

Junior Kirsty Hodgkins, like Choi an Australian, will likely take over the No. 1 position for the Buffs.

— Dawn Shockley, who grew up in Estes Park and played her college golf at DU, seems to be making an impression as the women’s coach at Oregon State. At midseason, the Beavers are ranked No. 25 in the nation, according to Golfstat.

While there are plenty of college veterans that figure to shine for Colorado-based DI teams, several freshmen demonstrated great promise in their first semester as college golfers, in the fall. That includes Colorado State University players Oscar Teiffel and Davis Bryant, who had the Rams’ top two scoring averages in the autumn. Another promising freshman is former Coloradan Elizabeth Wang, who posted a 71.25 scoring average in her first semester at Harvard.

Looking ahead to the spring, here’s a brief preview of the Colorado-based DI programs, broken into several categories:

SPRING SEASON OPENERS

— DU Women: Jan. 27 dual match vs. Arizona State in Tempe, Ariz.
— DU Men: Jan. 28-29 at Arizona Intercollegiate in Tucson, Ariz.
— CU Women: Feb. 3-5 at Northrop Grumman Invitational in Palos Verdes, Calif.
— CU Men: Feb. 7-9 at Amer Ari Intercollegiate in Waikoloa, Hawaii.
— UNC Men: Feb. 11-12 at Pat Hicks Thunderbird Invitational in St. George, Utah.
— CSU Women: Feb. 18-19 at The Rebel Beach in Las Vegas, Nev.
— CSU Men: Feb. 20 dual match vs. Denver in Palm Desert, Calif.
— UNC Women: Feb. 23-24 at GCU Invitational in Phoenix.
— Air Force Academy Men: Feb. 23-25 at Loyola Invitational in Goodyear, Ariz.

NATIONAL TEAM RANKINGS

Men
47. Colorado State (Golfstat; 51st Golfweek)
73. Colorado (Golfstat; 81st Golfweek)
118. Northern Colorado (Golfstat; 122nd Golfweek)
137. Denver (Golfstat; 149th Golfweek)
203. Air Force Academy (Golfstat; 204th Golfweek)

Women
36. Colorado (Golfweek; 42nd Golfstat)
69. Colorado State (Golfstat; 74th Golfweek)
79. Denver (Golfweek; 81st Golfstat)
149. Northern Colorado (Golfstat; 150th Golfweek)

NATIONAL INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS (in top 250)

Men
91. Former Coloradan Kyler Dunkle, Utah (Golfweek; 202nd Golfstat)
111. Daniel O’Loughlin, CU (Golfstat; 139th Golfweek)
118. Oscar Teiffel, CSU (Golfweek; 145th Golfstat)
120. Coby Welch, UNC (Golfstat; 160th Golfweek)
150. Davis Bryant, CSU (Golfstat; 189th Golfweek)
241. Trevor Olkowski, CU (Golfstat)

Women
11. Robyn Choi, CU (Golfstat; 20th Golfweek; will not compete in spring as she’s become an LPGA Tour member)
57. Coloradan Jennifer Kupcho, Wake Forest (Golfweek 72nd Golfstat)
72. Kirsty Hodgkins, CU (Golfweek; 73rd Golfstat)
87. Mary Weinstein, DU (Golfweek; 121st Golfstat)
97. Former Coloradan Elizabeth Wang, Harvard (Golfweek; 179th Golfstat)
190. Katrina Prendergast, CSU (Golfstat)

TEAM VICTORIES IN FALL
— CU Men (2): Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational; Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational.

— CSU Men (2): Ram Masters Invitational; Paintbrush Invitational.

— CSU Women (1): Ron Moore Women’s Intercollegiate.

INDIVIDUAL VICTORIES IN FALL
— Former Coloradan Kyler Dunkle, Utah (2): Showdown in the Rockies; Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational.  

— Ellen Secor, CSU (1): Ron Moore Women’s Intercollegiate.

— Daniel O’Loughlin, CU (1): Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational.

— Oscar Teiffel, CSU (1): Paintbrush Invitational.

— Trevor Olkowski, CU (1): Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational (tied for title before losing to Dunkle in a playoff, though both are officially credited with a win.)

TOP INDIVIDUAL FALL STROKE AVERAGE FOR EACH TEAM

CSU Men: Oscar Teiffel 70.77
UNC Men: Coby Welch 70.83
CU Men: Daniel O’Loughlin 71.2
CU Women: Robyn Choi 71.44
DU Women: Mary Weinstein 72.42
CSU Women: Katrina Prendergast 72.67
DU Men: Jun Ho Won 73.22
Air Force Academy Men: Luke Trujillo 74.4
UNC Women: Beah Cruz 75.0

CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

CU Women: Pac-12 in Palos Verdes Estates, Calif., April 15-17.
CSU Women: Mountain West in Rancho, Mirage, Calif., April 15-17.
UNC Women: Big Sky in Boulder City, Nev., April 19-21.
DU Women: Summit League in Newton, Kan., April 21-23.
CU Men: Pac-12 in Eugene, Ore., April 22-24.
CSU and Air Force Men: Mountain West in Tucson, Ariz., April 26-28.
UNC Men: Big Sky in Boulder City, Nev., April 26-28.
DU Men: Summit League in Newton, Kan., April 28-30.

NCAA REGIONAL SCHEDULE

Women: May 6-8, sites TBD (must earn selection).
Men: May 13-15, sites TBD (must earn selection).

Choi (left), a junior from Australia, finished 21st on Thursday in Stage 2 of Q-school in Venice, Fla. The top 41 finishers out of the original field of 193 landed spots in the Q-series, which will take place from Oct. 24-Nov. 3 at the Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina.

Choi, who has qualified in Colorado for the last two U.S. Women’s Opens, shot an even-par 72 in the final round, giving her a four-day total of 2-under 286. She made three birdies and three bogeys on Thursday and played her final seven holes in 2 under par.

Former Parker resident Elizabeth Wang, who entered the final round in 25th place, missed advancing to the Q-Series by one stroke. The Harvard freshman’s played her final five holes in 2 over par to shoot a 74 and check in at 289, which left her with a 42nd-place finish.

The players who advance to the Q-series will be part of a field — which is expected to number 103 golfers — who will compete in two 72-hole stroke-play tournaments held on consecutive weeks Oct. 24-Nov. 3 in North Carolina. Scores will be cumulative over the two weeks, with at least the top 45 finishers and ties earning LPGA cards. A $150,000 purse will be on the line.

Sixty-two players are exempt and entered into the Q-Series. Among the exempt players expected to compete are Coloradans Jennifer Kupcho and Becca Huffer and former University of Colorado golfer Jennifer Coleman, who had an LPGA Tour card in 2017.

Amateurs — such as Choi — 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.

Here are the round-by-round scores in Stage 2 for the players with strong Colorado connections:

Advances to Q-Series
21. CU golfer Robyn Choi 72-71-71-72–286
Failed to Advance
42. Former Colorado resident Elizabeth Wang 71-73-71-74–289
104. Former CU golfer Kristin Coleman 75-73-75-74–297
120. Former Denver resident Emily Gilbreth 77-76-75-71–299
151. Ashley Tait of Littleton 76-79-73-76–304
179. Former CU golfer Brittany Fan 75-80-75-81–311
Former CU golfer Emily Childs 79-84–WD

For complete results, CLICK HERE.
 

With a minimum of the top 25 finishers and ties after 72 holes advancing to the Q-Series, which this year replaces the third and final stage of Q-school, that leaves Robyn Choi (left) and Elizabeth Wang in good shape to move on in the process.

Choi, a University of Colorado junior who has qualified for the last two U.S. Women’s Opens, and Wang, a former Parker resident who’s now a freshman at Harvard, each shot a 1-under-par 71 Wednesday at the Panther Course at Plantation Golf & Country Club. That moved Choi into 18th place at 2-under-par 214 and Wang into 25th place at 215.

Choi and Wang each carded three birdies and two bogeys in round 3.

The players who advance to the Q-series will be part of a field — numbering no more than 108 golfers — who will compete in two 72-hole stroke-play tournaments held on consecutive weeks Oct. 22-Nov. 3 at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina. Scores will be cumulative over the two weeks.

Sixty-two players are exempt and entered into the Q-Series, meaning additional golfers from Stage 2 could advance as long as the total number of competitors in the Q-Series, including exempt participants, doesn’t exceed 108.

Amateurs — such as Wang and Choi — who 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.

Here are the round-by-round scores in Stage 2 for the players with strong Colorado connections:

18. CU golfer Robyn Choi 72-71-71–214
25. Former Colorado resident Elizabeth Wang 71-73-71–215
101. Former CU golfer Kristin Coleman 75-73-75–223
148. Ashley Tait of Littleton 76-79-73–228
149. Former Denver resident Emily Gilbreth 77-76-75–228
167. Former CU golfer Brittany Fan 75-80-75–230
Former CU golfer Emily Childs 79-84–WD

For complete results, CLICK HERE.
 

Choi (left), a junior from Australia, jumped up to 23rd place out of the 193-player field as a three-birdie, two-bogey day at the Panther Course at Plantation Golf & Country Club left her at 1-under 143 overall with two rounds remaining. Choi has qualified in Colorado for the last two U.S. Women’s Opens.

Also in the top 100 at the halfway point of the tournament are former Parker resident Elizabeth Wang (144, 33rd place) and former CU golfer Kristin Coleman (148, 82nd place). Wang was 2 under for the day through 15 holes, but double bogeyed No. 16 and bogeyed No. 18.

A minimum of the top 25 players and ties after 72 holes will advance to Q-Series, which this year replaces the third and final stage of Q-school. There, a maximum of 108 players will compete in two 72-hole stroke-play tournaments held on consecutive weeks Oct. 22-Nov. 3 at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina. Scores will be cumulative over the two weeks.

Sixty-two players are exempt and entered into the Q-Series, meaning additional golfers from Stage 2 could advance as long as the total number of competitors in the Q-Series, including exempt participants, doesn’t exceed 108.

Amateurs — such as Wang and Choi — who earn their LPGA Tour cards can defer their acceptance of membership until July 1, 2019.

Here are the round-by-round scores in Stage 2 for the players with strong Colorado connections:

23. CU golfer Robyn Choi 72-71–143
33. Former Colorado resident Elizabeth Wang 71-73–144
82. Former CU golfer Kristin Coleman 75-73–148
153. Former Denver resident Emily Gilbreth 77-76–153
167. Former CU golfer Brittany Fan 75-80–155
167. Ashley Tait of Littleton 76-79–155
Former CU golfer Emily Childs 79-84–WD

For complete results, CLICK HERE.
 

Wang, a freshman at Harvard who finished 34th in this year’s U.S. Women’s Open and made the round of 16 at the U.S. Women’s Amateur, shares 28th place out of the field of 193. And Choi, who has played in the last two U.S. Women’s Opens, is tied for 39th with three rounds remaining.

A minimum of the top 25 players and ties after 72 holes will advance to Q-Series, which this year replaces the third and final stage of Q-school. There, a maximum of 108 players will compete in two 72-hole stroke-play tournaments held on consecutive weeks Oct. 22-Nov. 3 at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina. Scores will be cumulative over the two weeks.

Sixty-two players are exempt and entered into the Q-Series, meaning additional golfers from Stage II could advance as long as the total number of competitors in the Q-Series, including exempt participants, doesn’t exceed 108.

Wang made four birdies and three bogeys on Monday at the Bobcat Course at Plantation Golf & Country Club. Choi, meanwhile, carded three birdies and three bogeys.

Amateurs — such as Wang and Choi — who earn their LPGA Tour cards can defer their acceptance of membership until July 1, 2019.

Here are the round-by-round scores in Stage 2 for the players with strong Colorado connections:

28. Former Colorado resident Elizabeth Wang 71
39. CU golfer Robyn Choi 72
108. Former CU golfer Brittany Fan 75
108. Former CU golfer Kristin Coleman 75
133. Ashley Tait of Littleton 76
152. Former Denver resident Emily Gilbreth 77
173. Former CU golfer Emily Childs 79

For complete results, CLICK HERE.
 

Former CU player — and now rookie pro — Brittany Fan, along with current Buff junior Robyn Choi and former Parker resident Elizabeth Wang finished in the top 55 out of a 339-player field in Stage I of Q-school in Rancho Mirage, Calif. At least the top 100 finishers and ties advance to Stage II, set for Oct. 15-18 in Venice, Fla.

Additional players from Stage I might also earn trips to Stage II, depending on the number of other entrants into the event in Venice.

Fan shot a 1-over-par 73 on Sunday to finish at 2-over 290 over four days, good for 46th place.

Choi (left), who has played in the last two U.S. Women’s Opens, tied with Fan after shooting her third consecutive 72. On Sunday, the Australian made four birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey.

Wang, who finished 34th in this year’s U.S. Women’s Open and made the round of 16 at the U.S. Women’s Amateur, finished a stroke behind Fan and Choi, in 55th place, after her second consecutive 73. She carded three birdies and four bogeys on Sunday.

This year in the LPGA qualifying process, a Q-Series replaces the third and final stage. There, a maximum of 108 players will compete in two 72-hole stroke-play tournaments held on consecutive weeks Oct. 22-Nov. 3 at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina. Scores will be cumulative over the two weeks.

Amateurs who earn their cards can defer their acceptance of LPGA membership until July 1, 2019.

Here are the round-by-round scores in Stage I for the players with strong Colorado connections:

ADVANCE TO STAGE II
46. Former CU golfer Brittany Fan 74-73-70-73–290
46. University of Colorado golfer/amateur Robyn Choi 74-72-72-72–290
55. Amateur Elizabeth Wang, who grew up in Colorado 76-69-73-73–291
OTHERS WHO MADE THE 54-HOLE CUT
102. Amateur Emily Gilbreth, a former Denver resident 76-72-78-75–295
112. Ashley Tait of Littleton 71-74-75-76–296
138. Paige Crawford of Colorado Springs 73-70-78-79–300
MISSED THE 54-HOLE CUT
147. Hannah Wood of Highlands Ranch 71-78-75–224
160. Former CU golfer Natalie Vivaldi 72-78-75–225
216. Amateur Jaylee Tait of Littleton 77-75-77–229
232. Samantha Stancato of Colorado Springs 76-80-74–230

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

With at least the top 100 players and ties after four rounds advancing to Stage II — set for Oct. 15-18 in Venice, Fla. — Fan jumped into the top 50 on Saturday in Rancho Mirage, Calif. She shot a 2-under-par 70 in round 3 to put her in 49th place at 1-over 217.

Fan (left) carded six birdies on Saturday, along with two bogeys and a double bogey. She trails leader Celina Yuan of Australia by 12 strokes.

Meanwhile, Choi checked in at 218 (67th place) after a third round 72.

Also among the players with strong Colorado connections in the top 100 through three rounds are former Coloradan Elizabeth Wang (218), Ashley Tait of Littleton (220, 93rd place) and former Denver resident Emily Gilbreth (220).

This year in the LPGA qualifying process, a Q-Series replaces the third and final stage. There, a maximum of 108 players will compete in two 72-hole stroke-play tournaments held on consecutive weeks Oct. 22-Nov. 3 at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina. Scores will be cumulative over the two weeks.

Amateurs who earn their cards can defer their acceptance of LPGA membership until July 1, 2019.

Here are the round-by-round scores this week for the players with strong Colorado connections:

49. Former CU golfer Brittany Fan 74-73-70–217
67. Amateur Elizabeth Wang, who grew up in Colorado 76-69-73–218
67. University of Colorado golfer/amateur Robyn Choi 74-72-72–218
93. Ashley Tait of Littleton 71-74-75–220
93. Amateur Emily Gilbreth, a former Denver resident 76-72-78–221
112. Paige Crawford of Colorado Springs 73-70-78–221

Missed 54-Hole Cut (those at 223 or better will play final round)
147. Hannah Wood of Highlands Ranch 71-78-75–224
160. Former CU golfer Natalie Vivaldi 72-78-75–225
216. Amateur Jaylee Tait of Littleton 77-75-77–229
232. Samantha Stancato of Colorado Springs 76-80-74–230

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

With at least the top 100 players and ties after four rounds advancing to Stage II — set for Oct. 15-18 in Venice, Fla. — Paige Crawford of Colorado Springs leads the local contingent. She made six birdies on Friday and shot a 2-under-par 70 at the Dinah Shore Course, giving her a 1-under 143 total, good for a share of 35th place.

Other locals in the top 100 with two rounds remaining are Ashley Tait of Littleton (145, 61st place), former Coloradan Elizabeth Wang (also at 145), University of Colorado golfer Robyn Choi (146, 78th place) and former Buff Brittany Fan (147, 100th place).

Celina Yuan of Australia holds the 36-hole lead at 9-under 135.

The field will be cut after 54 holes to a minimum of the low 125 players and ties.

This year in the LPGA qualifying process, a Q-Series replaces the third and final stage. There, a maximum of 108 players will compete in two 72-hole stroke-play tournaments held on consecutive weeks Oct. 22-Nov. 3 at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina. Scores will be cumulative over the two weeks.

Amateurs who earn their cards can defer their acceptance of LPGA membership until July 1, 2019.

Here are the round-by-round scores for the players with strong Colorado connections:

35. Paige Crawford of Colorado Springs 73-70–143
61. Ashley Tait of Littleton 71-74–145
61. Amateur Elizabeth Wang, who grew up in Colorado 76-69–145
78. University of Colorado golfer/amateur Robyn Choi 74-72–146
100. Former CU golfer Brittany Fan 74-73–147
121. Amateur Emily Gilbreth, a former Denver resident 76-72–148
142. Hannah Wood of Highlands Ranch 71-78–149
169. Former CU golfer Natalie Vivaldi 72-78–150
210. Amateur Jaylee Tait of Littleton 77-75–152
273. Samantha Stancato of Colorado Springs 76-80–156

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

But while much of Thursday’s round-of-16 match in Kingston, Tenn., played out similarly, the end of the script was far different. And the result was that the former Parker resident saw her run end at the prestigious championship.

After being 2 down after 13 holes against Ohio State golfer Jaclyn Lee of Canada, Wang birdied three of her final five holes of regulation — including No. 18 from 18 inches — to extend the match.

But after halving the 19th hole with a par, Wang saw Lee birdie the 20th for the win and a berth in the quarterfinals at The Golf Club of Tennessee.

Wang, who lived in Parker until 2010 when she moved to San Marino, Calif., fell despite going 4 under par for the 20 holes. She made two 20-foot birdie putts on the back nine, but missed a 4-footer that would have won No. 13. (Wang is pictured Thursday in a USGA photo.)

Lee, ranked 26th in the world among women amateurs, finished 5 under on Thursday in a match that received plenty of attention during FS1’s afternoon TV coverage.

Earlier, Wang easily defeated Megan Schofill of Monticello, Fla., 5 and 4 in the round of 32. Wang never trailed in the match, going 2 under par for 14 holes.

Wang, the 2015 national Girls Junior PGA Champion who finished 34th in this year’s U.S. Women’s Open, also went to the round of 16 at the U.S. Women’s Am in 2015. She’ll soon be off to Harvard for her freshman season of college golf.

Here are the results for all the players with strong Colorado connections who competed at the U.S. Women’s Amateur:

MATCH PLAY
Round of 16 Thursday
Jaclyn Lee of Canada def. former Coloradan Elizabeth Wang of San Marino, Calif., 20 holes

Round of 32 Thursday
Former Coloradan Elizabeth Wang of San Marino, Calif. def.
Megan Schofill of Monticello, Fla., 5 and 4

Round of 64 Wednesday
Former Coloradan Elizabeth Wang of San Marino, Calif. def. Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster, 19 holes

STROKE PLAY
Advanced to Match Play
15. Former Parker resident Elizabeth Wang 70-69–139
39. Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster 70-72–142
Failed to Advance to Match Play
133. CU golfer Gillian Vance of Lakewood 75-79–154
133. Former Denver resident Emily Gilbreth 76-78–154
139. DU golfer Mary Weinstein of Highlands Ranch 80-75–155

For all the scores from the U.S. Women’s Amateur, CLICK HERE.
 

Two players with strong Colorado connections made match play at the U.S. Women’s Amateur, and when the bracket came together, they were paired against one another in the first round.

That was the situation at The Golf Club of Tennessee in Kingston, where Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster and former Parker resident Elizabeth Wang squared off in the round of 64. The two crossed paths on several occasions during their early junior golf careers in Colorado — Wang moved from Colorado to San Marino, Calif. in 2010 — but that was obviously a while ago as Kupcho is now 21 and Wang 18. (Before she moved, Wang won the inaugural girls 10 & Under Junior Series Championship in Colorado in 2008.)

When they were thrown together on Wednesday, Kupcho (left in a USGA photo) had the upper hand much of the day, but Wang birdied the 19th hole from 10 feet to advance to the round of 32.

“Jennifer is an amazing player, and actually we knew each other because I used to live in Colorado, so we always played junior tournaments together,” Wang said. “It was great to be able to play with a friend, especially since we only see each other once a year now for amateur tournaments.”

Kupcho, the NCAA Division I individual champion from Wake Forest, never trailed for the first 18 holes against Wang, the 2015 national Girls Junior PGA Champion who finished 34th in this year’s U.S. Women’s Open. Kupcho, the No. 2-ranked women’s amateur in the world, was 2 up after 11 holes. But Wang won No. 12 with a par and No. 14 with a bogey.

The players then halved each of the final four holes of regulation — with pars on three occasions and birdies on 17 — to force “overtime.” The birdie on 17 was the first of the day for Kupcho and the second for Wang.

Then the birdie on the 19th hole put Wang ahead for the first time — and gave her the victory.

For Kupcho, who likely was competing in her final U.S. Women’s Amateur as she’s a senior-to-be at Wake Forest, it marked the second consecutive year she’s lost in the match play round of 64 at this championship.

Kupcho finished 3 over par for 19 holes on Monday, while the 19th-hole birdie made Wang 2 over for the match.

With the win, the Harvard-bound Wang will face 17-year-old Megan Schofill of Monticello, Fla., in Thursday’s round of 32. Schofill defeated German Sophie Hausmann on the 19th hole with a birdie.

Here are the scores for all the players with strong Colorado connections competing at the U.S. Women’s Amateur:

MATCH PLAY
Round of 64
Former Coloradan Elizabeth Wang of San Marino, Calif. def. Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster, 19 holes

STROKE PLAY
Advanced to Match Play
15. Former Parker resident Elizabeth Wang 70-69–139
39. Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster 70-72–142
Failed to Advance to Match Play
133. CU golfer Gillian Vance of Lakewood 75-79–154
133. Former Denver resident Emily Gilbreth 76-78–154
139. DU golfer Mary Weinstein of Highlands Ranch 80-75–155

For all the scores from the U.S. Women’s Amateur, CLICK HERE.