The USGA announced last week that Kupcho will be one of three golfers who will represent the U.S. in the Women’s World Amateur Team Championship in Dublin, Ireland Aug. 29-Sept. 1. The Women’s NCAA Division I individual champion from Wake Forest earned that automatic selection by virtue of being the top-ranked American player in the Women’s WAGR as of the July 25 update.

“Jennifer is a terrific young woman and golf talent who represented the United States at this year’s Curtis Cup Match,” said Stasia Collins, the American team captain for the WATC. “We couldn’t be prouder to have her as our ambassador in Ireland.”

It will be the third time in the last few months that Kupcho (left) will play for the U.S. in a major team competition. She helped American squads claim titles in both the Curtis Cup and the Arnold Palmer Cup. Kupcho is now No. 2 in the Women’s World Amateur Golf Rankings behind fellow American Lilia Vu.

The other two U.S. representatives for the U.S. Women’s World Amateur Team Championship will be determined after this week’s U.S. Women’s Amateur at The Golf Club of Tennessee in Kingston Springs. The tournament champion will be guaranteed a spot on the team.

The U.S. finished sixth at the last biennial Women’s WATC, in 2016 as South Korea won. The top two scores for each team each day will count toward the team total.

Another player with strong Colorado ties who will compete in the 2018 Women’s WATC will be University of Colorado golfer Kirsty Hodgkins, who will represent her native Australia.

No. 1-seeded Gillian Vance from the University of Colorado defeated teammate Jaclyn Murray 6 and 4 in the opening match, then beat Alexis Chan of The Links Golf Club 3 and 1 to make the final four.

Mary Weinstein of the University of Denver and CommonGround Golf Course, like Vance soon headed for the U.S. Women’s Amateur, scored two decisive wins — 4 and 3 over Amelia Lee of The Ridge at Castle Pines North and 6 and 5 over BYU golfer Anna Kennedy of Colorado Golf Club — to also make the semis. (Weinstein is pictured in a DU photo.)

Colorado Mesa golfer Hannah More, of Pinehurst Country Club, defeated Gilbreth in the quarterfinals, 2 and 1. Rounding out the semifinalists is Clemson’s Kennedy Swann, who needed 19 holes to beat Caitlyn Skavdahl in the quarterfinals.

Vance will face Swann and Weinstein will take on More in Thursday’s semifinals of the championship flight.

Meanwhile, in the senior championship flight, the top three seeds won their quarterfinal matches on Wednesday. That included stroke-play medalist Kristine Franklin of Colorado National Golf Club, Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton and Tiffany Maurycy of Cherry Creek Country Club, in addition to fifth-seeded Deb Hughes of Green Valley Ranch Golf Club.

Eaton, who is seeking to become the winningest player in CGA women’s/CWGA championship history, scored an 8 and 6 victory over Lisa Lee of Boulder Country Club. Franklin won 7 and 6 over Kathy Malpass of Hiwan Golf Club. Maurycy topped Jennifer Hocking of Cherokee Ridge Golf Couse 3 and 2, while Hughes prevailed 4 and 3 over Susan Hartwell of West Woods Golf Club, who went to the round of 32 at last year’s U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur.

In Thursday’s semifinals, it will be Franklin vs. Hughes and Eaton vs. Maurycy.

The winners of Thursday’s matches in all of the flights will play in Friday’s finals, with the championship flight title match being a scheduled 36-hole affair.

To view the results from the CGA Women’s Match Play, CLICK HERE.
 

Vance (left in a CU photo), who recently qualified for the U.S. Women’s Amateur, shot an even-par 72, making three birdies and three bogeys on the process. She’ll play CU teammate Jaclyn Murray in Wednesday’s round of 16.

Another player who has qualified for the U.S. Women’s Am, University of Denver golfer Mary Weinstein of CommonGround Golf Course, was second-best on Tuesday with a 3-over-par 75 that included two birdies.

Four golfers shared third place in stroke play at 76, including defending champion Emily Gilbreth of Highlands Ranch Golf Club.

In the senior championship division, Franklin, the 1986 CGA Women’s Stroke Play champion and a 2017 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur qualifier, posted the only sub-par round of the day with 1-under 71. She made three birdies and two bogeys on Tuesday.

Four-time Senior Match Play champion Kim Eaton, a Colorado Golf Hall of Famer who is trying to become the all-time winningest player in CGA women’s/CWGA championships, placed second in stroke play at 75. She carded three birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey.

Tiffany Maurycy of Cherry Creek Country Club was the only other senior championship player to break 80 on Tuesday, shooting 76.

Match play will begin on Wednesday for the 16 women in the open championship flight and for the eight each in the senior championship and the first, second and third flights. The competition will conclude on Friday with championship matches, including a 36-holer for the open-division finalists.

For scores from Tuesday’s stroke-play round and to view the brackets, CLICK HERE.

Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton, who won her first CGA/CWGA championship at the 1977 Colorado Junior Match Play, will attempt to make the CGA Women’s Senior Match Play title No. 26 on her Colorado state resume. If she does prevail at The Fox Hill Club, she’ll break the career record of Carol Flenniken, another Colorado Golf Hall of Famer.

The Women’s Match Play will begin with a stroke-play qualifying round on Tuesday (July 10) for players attempting to qualify for the championship or senior championship divisions. Then match play begins on Wednesday, with 16 players advancing to the open championship bracket and eight to that of the senior championship. The competition will conclude on Friday with championship matches in each flight, including a 36-holer for the open-division finalists.

Eaton, now a full-time resident of Arizona, tied Flenniken’s all-time mark by teaming up with Janet Moore to claim the title in the CGA Women’s Brassie in May. In addition to that being Eaton’s 25th career CGA/CWGA title, it was Moore’s 21st. But the latter won’t be competing in the Match Play as she qualified for the inaugural U.S. Senior Women’s Open at Chicago Golf Club.

Eaton has won four Stroke Plays, one Match Play, five Senior Stroke Plays, four Senior Match Plays, one Junior Match Play, seven Brassies, one Mashie, one Chapman and one Mixed.

Joining Eaton in the senior field in Longmont will be 2014 champion Deb Hughes; Susan Hartwell, who made the round of 32 — along with Eaton — at last year’s U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur; and Kristine Franklin, who likewise advanced to match play at the national Senior Women’s Am in 2017.

As for the open division, Emily Gilbreth, a former University of Houston golfer, will be back to defend her title, while 2017 runner-up Maddie Kern will also return.

Likewise in the open field are University of Denver golfer Mary Weinstein and University of Colorado player Gillian Vance, both of whom recently qualified for the U.S. Women’s Amateur; and former Match Play runner-up Jaylee Tait.

For Tuesday’s pairings, CLICK HERE.

That might be the collective feeling of every player who feels they might have a legitimate chance to win the CGA Women’s Stroke Play Championship … if Jennifer Kupcho isn’t in the field.

After all, the standout from Westminster won the 2015 CWGA Stroke Play (the former name for the CGA Women’s Stroke Play) by a whopping 21 shots, the 2016 championship by 19 shots, and last year’s tournament by “just” 13.

Do the math, and the average margin of victory for Kupcho in this event over the past three years was 17.7 strokes.

But Kupcho won’t be going for her fourth straight CGA Women’s Stroke Play title this week. Coming off winning the women’s NCAA Division I individual title and competing for the U.S. in its rout of Great Britain & Ireland in the Curtis Cup, Kupcho isn’t entered this year. Besides needing a break, she has jury duty this week.

So the list of players with a good chance to win goes from one to quite a few.

Black Bear Golf Club (pictured) in Parker will host the 71st annual CGA Women’s Stroke Play, with the 54-hole event running from Wednesday through Friday (June 20-22).

The championship flight for the event will feature the players with the top 12 scores after two rounds. Additional flights will include a dozen or more competitors each.

Among the college golfers entered who figure to be in the mix for the title are Texan Kennedy Swann (Clemson University), who finished 10th at the ACC Championship in April; Mary Weinstein (University of Denver), who placed second in this event in 2015 and fourth last year; 2016 runner-up Gillian Vance (University of Colorado); teammates Erin Sargent and Megan Knadler (Wyoming), who tied for second last year; Delaney Elliott (Montana State), who’s recorded two top-five finishes in the Stroke Play in the last three years; and Anna Kennedy (Brigham Young University), who’s posted top-10s each of the last two years.

Also among the 57 entrants is Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Janet Moore, a five-time winner of this event in the 1990s. Moore recently qualified for the inaugural U.S. Senior Women’s Open. Also in the field is Susan Hartwell, who advanced to the round of 32 at last year’s U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur.

For Wednesday’s tee times, CLICK HERE.
 

Especially regarding how Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster fares at the CWGA Stroke Play, that’s a particularly relevant question to ponder at this point.

When the 70th Stroke Play is held Monday through Wednesday (June 19-21) at Lone Tree Golf Club, the 20-year-old will be attempting to accomplish a couple of things not done for many a moon.

If Kupcho (pictured) wins next week, she’ll become the first player to three-peat “” win the title three consecutive years “” since Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Janet Moore won four in a row from 1994 to ’97. And a victory would make Kupcho the first golfer since Wendy Werley in 1988 and ’89 to claim the title in fourth straight CWGA majors (the Stroke Play and the Match Play).

Beyond that, it’ll be interesting to see if Kupcho can surpass the very high standard she’s set for herself in her last two CWGA Stroke Play victories. It may be difficult to fathom, but her average winning margin in those events was 20 shots, as she prevailed by 21 in 2015 and by 19 last year.

And, by the way, Kupcho won the first of her four CWGA majors at Lone Tree, the 2014 Match Play.

The Stroke Play will serve as a bit of a warm-up leading up to the U.S. Women’s Open for Kupcho, who’s currently No. 11 in the women’s World Amateur Golf Rankings. Just two days after the disappointment of finishing second at the Women’s NCAA Division I Championships after leading by two going into her penultimate hole, Kupcho earned medalist honors for the second straight year in Colorado-based Women’s Open qualifying. Arguably the most prestigious tournament in women’s golf will be contested July 13-16 at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J.

In all, 59 players will compete in the CWGA Stroke Play, with flighting taking place after the completion of 36 holes in the 54-hole event.

Among the other entrants are University of Colorado golfer Gillian Vance, a former 5A state high school champion who finished second to Kupcho in the 2016 Stroke Play; Jaylee Tait, runner-up to Kupcho in the 2016 CWGA Match Play; and Mary Weinstein, the 2016 Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado girls Player of the Year who placed second to Kupcho in the 2015 Stroke Play.

For Monday’s pairings from the Stroke Play, CLICK HERE.

Janet Moore of Centennial won her record eighth CWGA Mashie Championship and Susie Roh of Denver her first, but they both have an impressive rate of success in the four-ball match play event.

Moore, a Colorado Golf Hall of Famer, has captured the title eight of the 23 times the tournament has been held. And Roh, her teammate, is now one-for-one after claiming the championship in her first time competing.

In Thursday’s championship flight final at Todd Creek Golf Club in Thornton, Moore and Roh scored a 3-and-2 victory over two college golfers who reside in Colorado, 2016 champion Gillian Vance from the University of Colorado and partner Jaylee Tait from Montana State University.

Moore put her team over the top with a 6-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole, while Vance missed a 5-footer that would have prolonged the match.

Moore has now won Mashie titles with three different partners “” six times with fellow Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Christie Austin, once with Moore competing with her daughter Sarah, and once with Roh. (The 2017 champs are pictured together at top and below, with Moore at left.) But Moore’s last Mashie title with any partner had been 2011.

“The strength of my game in Mashies is picking great partners,” Moore said with a laugh. “And I did that really well this time. Susie is a great player and held us in there the whole time. And she played great yesterday (at Saddleback Golf Club in the semifinals); she shot 68. I didn’t contribute on any hole until the very last hole.”

For Roh, a former professional who once won a mini-tour event and now is a very good mid-amateur player, it was her first CWGA championship of any sort. Meanwhile, it’s believed to be Moore’s 20th, with 15 two-person team titles complementing her five CWGA Stroke Play championships in the 1990s.

“I was really nervous the first day and Janet carried us (in the quarterfinals). Then we kind of flip-flopped (in the semifinals),” Roh said. “But every match we had was a grind.”

In the final, Vance and Tait won the first hole with Tait’s birdie, but they fell behind when Roh carded back-to-back birdies on holes 7 and 8. Roh gave her team a 3-up lead with a two-putt birdie on No. 14. Then after Vance and Tait won the 15th hole with a par, Moore ended things with her birdie on 16.

“We were both very consistent “” too consistent,” said Tait, the 2016 CWGA Match Play runner-up who was competing in the Mashie for the first time. “We birdied the first hole, then nothing after that. You can’t really win this with pars.” (Tait and Vance are pictured together, with Tait at left.)

Added Vance: “It was a long drought. But it was just fun to play with these women. We played with Janet last year (in the final), and it’s just always fun to play with them. I know they’re super good. It’s just a blast to be out here, honestly.”

In both the semifinals and the final, Moore, 52, and Roh, 43, defeated opponents made up of college players. But on Thursday, Roh often out-drove Vance, a former 5A state high school champion, and Tait, a former U.S. Women’s Amateur qualifier.

“Susie here can bomb it, so that was fun,” Moore said. “Her length is definitely a huge plus “” and she’s just a competitor, so she’s fun to play with.

“But (college opponents) come out and they get a little nervous that they’re going to get beat by an old lady. We have that advantage that we’re older and maybe can sneak up on them a little bit.”

But no matter the opponent, and no matter how many CWGA championships she has under her built, adding another puts a smile on Moore’s face.

“It’s very satisfying,” she said. “It’s fun to still be able to compete.”

The Mashie marked the first CWGA championship of 2017.

Champions of the other flights on Thursday were:

First Flight: Vickie Brown and Sally Lawrence

Second Flight: Mary Repetto and Carla Stearns

Third Flight: Kim Gould and Theresa Lange

Fourth Flight: Alison O’Connor and Pat O’Connor

Fifth Flight: Darlene Evans and Beckie Harkey

Sixth Flight: Bonnie Catalano and Pam Levkulich

Seventh Flight: Dee Riedel and Sharon Thiel

Eighth Flight: Maree Albright and Joyce Craig

Ninth Flight: Judy Jones and Teresa Smiley

Tenth Flight: Lesley Ackerman and Lori Maul

For results from all the flights, CLICK HERE.

Alas, she missed earning a spot in the 2016 championship — she finished a stroke out of a playoff at a qualifying tournament, and she didn’t land an automatic berth by making the cut at the U.S. Women’s Open — so Kupcho made the best of Plan B.

That translated into not only winning the CWGA Stroke Play for the second straight year, but running away with it. After prevailing by 21 shots last year, the victory margin was a “mere” 19 this time around. The win gave the 19-year-old the first single-season sweep of the CWGA’s two majors — the Match Play and the Stroke Play — since Kim Eaton won both in 2004.

“After I won Match Play I was kind of thinking, ‘That would be really cool to win Stroke, but hopefully I won’t be here because I’ll be at the Am.'” Kupcho said Thursday. “That didn’t happen, so it was, ‘Well, hopefully I can get the win (in the Stroke Play)’ and I did, so that’s really exciting.”

The successful title defense at Denver Country Club means that the Wake Forest golfer has won three consecutive CWGA majors — and all in dominating fashion. (She’s pictured above with both the Match Play and Stroke Play trophies, and at left with her dad/caddie Mike.)

The two-time CWGA Player of the Year becomes the first competitor since Wendy Werley in 1988 and ’89 to claim the titles in three straight CWGA majors. (Werley actually won four in a row in those two years.)

A day after firing a 7-under-par 65 and breaking the women’s course record at Denver Country Club — a 68 shot by none other than world-renowned athlete Babe Zaharias on July 3, 1946 — Kupcho posted a 5-under 67 in Thursday’s final round. That gave her a 13-under-par 203 total, just three strokes higher than she shot last year at Pinehurst Country Club, where she also went 65-67 the last two days.

Not only is Kupcho the first to sweep the CWGA Match Play and Stroke Play titles in the same season in a dozen years, but she’s the first to win back-to-back Stroke Play championships since Melissa Martin did so in 2009 and ’10. All told, Kupcho (left, next to a scoreboard on the 18th tee) has won two Stroke Plays and two Match Plays. Her Match Play victory this year came with a 12-and-10 score in the scheduled 36-hole final.

The 2016 U.S. Women’s Open qualifier finished 19 strokes up on runner-up Gillian Vance of Lakewood, a University of Colorado golfer who teamed with Kupcho to win the CWGA Mashie title earlier this year. Vance, the 2015 5A state high school champion, closed with a 77 for a 222 total.

“I’m really happy about (being runner-up),” said Vance (left). “Jennifer, she is a brick wall. She is so good, and I’m so proud of her. There are some really great girls out here. To take second is awesome, next to Jennifer.”

Claiming third place on Thursday, at 224, was Rosana Valdor of City Park Golf Course, a Spaniard who played college golf at the University of Texas El Paso. Fourth was University of Wyoming golfer Taylor Dorans of Erie, who posted a 227.

Asked how she keeps playing well even when she has such a large lead that it’s a virtual lock that she’ll win, Kupcho said, “I just play to what I know I’m capable of. Even if the field isn’t coming up to me, I’ve just got to keep focused and keep going.”

But while Thursday’s outcome was largely a lock as she came into the day with a nine-shot lead, Tuesday’s first round was touch-and-go there for a while. After all, a migraine — a problem she dealt with on occasion during high school — hit her while she was on the practice range prior to her round.

“I got it on the range and I really couldn’t see anything,” she said. “I wasn’t watching my ball flight. I told my mom where I was kind of trying to aim, then I’d hit it and she’d tell me where it would go. I was just warming up, hoping I could actually see when I teed off. That was crazy, and the first six or seven holes were really tough. I kind of felt like I needed to throw up the whole time. It was just kind of getting through, then the back nine I started feeling a little better.”

Asked if she considered withdrawing, and Kupcho said no.

“I played through (a migraine) in high school regionals so I knew I could do it,” she noted. “Since I really wanted this, it was like, ‘Power through. You’ve got this.'”

Kupcho ended up shooting a 71 that first day, then got in a groove on Wednesday and Thursday. Over her final 36 holes, she racked up an eagle, 12 birdies and two bogeys.

The eagle came on the 454-yard, par-5 10th hole on Thursday. After a 280-yard drive, she hit a 6-iron to 15 feet and calmly rolled in the putt for a 3 (left).

“Because I’ve played with her for so long, I guess it’s like, ‘She’ll do that,'” Vance said “You just know, and you learn to play your own game. You can’t really do anything about it except praise them because it’s amazing.”

Because the lead was so large on Thursday, Kupcho set a goal of finishing at 16-under-par 200, as she did last year at Pinehurst. And after the eagle on 10, that was well within reach as she was 13 under with eight holes left.

“It was just trying to keep myself motivated to get something,” said Kupcho, who tied for sixth as a freshman earlier this year in the Women’s NCAA finals. “I kind of wanted to get to 200. That would have been really sweet again. But then I probably would have been thinking, ‘It could have been 199.'”

Alas, Kupcho ended up playing her final eight holes in even par and settling for 203.

And with that, she goes out on a high note, summer golf-wise. Kupcho said she isn’t planning on playing any more tournaments before driving back to Wake Forest for her sophomore season late this month.

As for the other seven flights at the CWGA Stroke Play, the gross-score champions were Delaney Elliott and Kylee Sullivan (tied in first flight), Holly Schaefer and Mariah Ehrman (tied in second flight), Emilee Strausburg and Kathy Malpass (tied in third flight), Mary Doyen (fourth flight), Jane Ford and Kelli Poppenhagen (tied in fifth flight), Debbie Mills (sixth flight), and Hee Chung and Vicki Porter (tied in seventh flight).

CWGA Stroke Play
At Par-72 Denver CC

Championship Flight
Jennifer Kupcho, CommonGround WGC 71-65-67–203
Gillian Vance, CommonGround WGA 72-73-77–222
Rosana Valdor, City Park Wga 75-75-74–224
Taylor Dorans, Eagle Trace Lga 74-73-80–227
Calli Ringsby, Denver CC Lga 77-75-78–230
Morgan Sahm, Saddle Rock Wga 79-76-76–231
Anna Kennedy, Denver CC Lga 78-77-77–232
Betsy Kelly, Green Valley Ranch Wga 78-75-79–232
Kim Eaton, Riverdale Wga 80-72-81–233
Jaylee Tait, Raccoon Creek WGA 78-77-82–237
Janet Moore, Cherry Hills CC Wga 76-78-90–244
Tori Glenn, Ridge at Castle Pines N Wga 82-75-WD

First Flight
Delaney Elliott, CommonGround WGA 78-80-77–235
Kylee Sullivan, CC of Colorado WGA 79-81-75–235
Mackenzie Cohen, Inverness Lga 81-80-78–239
Klara Castillo, Kennedy Lga 78-87-77–242
Michelle Romano, Colorado Golf Club Wga 78-83-83–244
Allie Johnston, Red Hawk Ridge Wga 82-80-83–245
Megan McCambridge, Boulder CC Wga 83-79-83–245
Ashlyn Kirschner, West Woods Wgc 83-88-77–248
Courtney Ewing, Desert Hawk Pueblo West Wga 84-80-87–251
Kelly Moran, Boulder CC Wga 82-85-84–251
Tiffany Maurycy, Cherry Creek CC Wga 83-87-85–255
Sydney Gillespie, Highlands Ranch Wga 83-87-86–256
Forre Zook, Colorado Springs CC Lga 88-86-88–262

Second Flight
Holly Schaefer, Columbine CC Lga 84-73-78–235
Mariah Ehrman, Heritage at Westmoor WGA 77-78-80–235
Jacquelin Biggs, South Suburban Family Sports 79-79-79–237
Maddie Kern, Cjga Tournament Club 82-79-80–241
Madison McCambridge, Boulder CC Wga 76-84-82–242
Megan Vernon, Applewood Wga 83-84-78–245
Christie Austin, Cherry Hills CC Wga 87-83-79–249
Kacey Godwin, CommonGround WGA 82-80-88–250
Kelly Martin, Fox Hollow Lgc 87-79-85–251

Third Flight
Emilee Strausburg, The Club at Rolling Hills Wga 84-77-79–240
Kathy Malpass, Hiwan Wga 80-81-79–240
Brittany Roberts, Wellshire Women 79-86-84–249
Cindy Snow, Pinery CC Wga 86-85-79–250
Jennifer Hocking, Colorado Springs CC Lga 88-79-83–250
Nina Dulacki, Broken Tee Englewood Wga 91-83-81–255
Katherine Moore-Lilly, Cordillera Wga Valley 87-84-87–258
Ruth Van Zee, LGA at Blackstone/Black Bear 85-84-90–259
Jessi McVay, CommonGround 86-88-93–267

Fourth Flight
Mary Doyen, Foothills Wga 84-80-80–244
Liz Kennedy, Tiara Rado Lga 85-79-86–250
Sue Hartwell, West Woods Wgc 84-81-86–251
Laurie Steenrod, Saddle Rock Wga 85-83-85–253
Karen Williams, Wellshire Wga 88-83-84–255
Sandra Young, Eisenhower Wga 88-81-87–256
Kendra George, Ravenna Wga 81-87-90–258
Kate Connor, South Surburban 83-88-89–260
Dr. Andrea Grilli, The Club at Rolling Hills Wga 93-83-86–262
Meagan Arvidson, Lga at Blackstone/Black Bear 81-80-101–262
LeAnna Rosenow, West Woods Wgc 93-84-89–266
Kathleen Johnson, Ranch CC Lga 93-88-DQ–DQ

Fifth Flight
Jane Ford, Hyland Hills Wga 86-89-86–261
Kelli Poppenhagen, Meadow Hills Wga 90-86-85–261
Liza Grant, Denver CC Lga 89-85-89–263
Susan Schell, Arrowhead Wga 88-88-90–266
Carla Stearns, Wellshire Women 92-89-86–267
Sophia Montoya, Elmwood Golf Course 86-93-90–269
Katty Rothberg, Cherry Creek CC Wga 91-89-93–273
Karen Hale, CC of Castle Pines 96-90-91–277
Jessica Nisbet, Ptarmigan CC Wga 87-94-101–282
Kimalee Hull, Pinehurst CC Wga 91-94-97–282
Melis Ward, Wellshire Wga 100-87-95–282
Patty Smogor, Saddle Rock Wga 94-97-92–283
Patricia Swanson, West Woods Wga 103-89-92–284
Marie Driessen, The Pinery CC 95-96-94–285
Ouida Neil, Broadmoor Wga 100-93-94–287

Sixth Flight
Debbie Mills, Meridian Wga 89-91-82–262
Laura Dunston, Canongate Colorado Wgc 89-87-90–266
Jo Ann Higgins, Fox Hill Club Wga 88-92-87–267
Mariko Coplin, Willis Case Wga 88-90-90–268
Karen Chase, Fox Hollow Lgc 90-88-95–273
Chris Jansen, Broken Tee Wgl 89-95-93–277
Ria Woodruff, Saddle Rock Wga 88-94-100–282
Diane Ferrara, Broken Tee Englewood Wga 96-92-95–283
Elizabeth Kraemer, Legacy Ridge Wga 92-94-100–286
Wendy Atkinson, Ranch CC Lga 95-97-94–286

Seventh Flight
Hee Chung, Meridian Wga 92-84-90–266
Vicki Porter, Foothills Wga 89-86-91–266
Jean Miller, West Woods Wgc 88-92-90–270
Alison O’Connor, Collindale Wga 95-82-96–273
Patricia Sato, Ranch CC Lga 94-87-96–277
Jenna Knutson, Indian Peaks Golf Club 94-91-96–281
Emma Robinson, Pueblo CC Wga 94-96-92–282
Andrea Dikeou, Castle Pines Wga 98-90-95–283
Claudia Gallegos, South Suburban Wga 91-98-94–283
Karen Leuschel, Riverdale Wga 90-91-102–283
Karin Hathaway, Wellshire Women 94-96-95–285
Linda Raunig, Broken Tee Wgl 102-93-91–286
Mary Smith, Fox Hollow Wga 88-96-110–294
Jennifer Tempas, Columbine CC Lga 98-99-98–295
Lisa Schmid, Green Valley Ranch Wga 106-97-101–304
Kim Gosche, Saddle Rock Wga 95-WD

In opening up a nine-shot lead after Wednesday’s second round of the 69th CWGA Stroke Play Championship, Kupcho is in great shape to become the first back-to-back winner of the Stroke Play since Melissa Martin in 2009 and ’10, and the first player since Kim Eaton in 2004 to sweep both the CWGA Match Play and Stroke Play titles in the same year.

It’s all par for the course for the Wake Forest golfer, a two-time CWGA Player of the Year who competed in the U.S. Women’s Open last month. After all, last year in this same event, she won by an jaw-dropping 21 shots.

Kupcho (pictured) not only fired a 7-under-par 65 on Wednesday at Denver Country Club, but she played her last 11 holes in 8 under par and her last six holes in 5 under.

That left her with an 8-under-par 136 total, nine shots better than second-place Gillian Vance of Lakewood, a University of Colorado golfer and 2015 5A state high school champion. Vance, who teamed with Kupcho to win the CWGA Mashie title earlier this year, carded a 73 on Wednesday, putting her at 145 overall.

University of Wyoming golfer Taylor Dorans (147) sits in third, while Rosana Valdor (150) is fourth. Eaton, a Colorado Golf Hall of Famer, and Denver Country Club’s Calli Ringsby share fifth place at 152.

The top dozen players from the championship/first flight after Wednesday’s second round were slotted into the championhip flight for Thursday’s final round. The championship flight leaders will tee off at 9:33 a.m. Thursday.

All told, there are seven flights in addition to the championship. For the scores from each flight, see below.

CWGA Stroke Play
At Par-72 Denver CC

Championship Flight

Jennifer Kupcho, CommonGround WGC 71-65–136
Gillian Vance, CommonGround WGA 72-73–145
Taylor Dorans, Eagle Trace Lga 74-73–147
Rosana Valdor, City Park Wga 75-75–150
Calli Ringsby, Denver CC Lga 77-75–152
Kim Eaton, Riverdale Wga 80-72–152
Betsy Kelly, Green Valley Ranch Wga 78-75–153
Janet Moore, Cherry Hills CC Wga 76-78–154
Anna Kennedy, Denver CC Lga 78-77–155
Jaylee Tait, Raccoon Creek WGA 78-77–155
Morgan Sahm, Saddle Rock Wga 79-76–155
Tori Glenn, Ridge at Castle Pines N Wga 82-75–157
 
First Flight
Delaney Elliott, CommonGround WGA 78-80–158
Kylee Sullivan, CC of Colorado WGA 79-81–160
Mackenzie Cohen, Inverness Lga 81-80–161
Michelle Romano, Colorado Golf Club Wga 78-83–161
Allie Johnston, Red Hawk Ridge Wga 82-80–162
Megan McCambridge, Boulder CC Wga 83-79–162
Courtney Ewing, Desert Hawk Pueblo West Wga 84-80–164
Klara Castillo, Kennedy Lga 78-87–165
Kelly Moran, Boulder CC Wga 82-85–167
Sydney Gillespie, Highlands Ranch Wga 83-87–170
Tiffany Maurycy, Cherry Creek CC Wga 83-87–170
Ashlyn Kirschner, West Woods Wgc 83-88–171
Forre Zook, Colorado Springs CC Lga 88-86–174
 
Second Flight
Mariah Ehrman, Heritage at Westmoor WGA 77-78–155
Holly Schaefer, Columbine CC Lga 84-73–157
Jacquelin Biggs, South Suburban Family Sports 79-79–158
Madison McCambridge, Boulder CC Wga 76-84–160
Maddie Kern, Cjga Tournament Club 82-79–161
Kacey Godwin, CommonGround WGA 82-80–162
Kelly Martin, Fox Hollow Lgc 87-79–166
Megan Vernon, Applewood Wga 83-84–167
Christie Austin, Cherry Hills CC Wga 87-83–170
 
Third Flight
Emilee Strausburg, The Club at Rolling Hills Wga 84-77–161
Kathy Malpass, Hiwan Wga 80-81–161
Brittany Roberts, Wellshire Women 79-86–165
Jennifer Hocking, Colorado Springs CC Lga 88-79–167
Ruth Van Zee, LGA at Blackstone/Black Bear 85-84–169
Cindy Snow, Pinery CC Wga 86-85–171
Katherine Moore-Lilly, Cordillera Wga Valley 87-84–171
Jessi McVay, CommonGround 86-88–174
Nina Dulacki, Broken Tee Englewood Wga 91-83–174
 
Fourth Flight
Meagan Arvidson, Lga at Blackstone/Black Bear 81-80–161
Liz Kennedy, Tiara Rado Lga 85-79–164
Mary Doyen, Foothills Wga 84-80–164
Sue Hartwell, West Woods Wgc 84-81–165
Kendra George, Ravenna Wga 81-87–168
Laurie Steenrod, Saddle Rock Wga 85-83–168
Sandra Young, Eisenhower Wga 88-81–169
Karen Williams, Wellshire Wga 88-83–171
Kate Connor, South Surburban 83-88–171
Dr. Andrea Grilli, The Club at Rolling Hills Wga 93-83–176
LeAnna Rosenow, West Woods Wgc 93-84–177
Kathleen Johnson, Ranch CC Lga 93-88–181
 
Fifth Flight
Liza Grant, Denver CC Lga 89-85–174
Jane Ford, Hyland Hills Wga 86-89–175
Kelli Poppenhagen, Meadow Hills Wga 90-86–176
Susan Schell, Arrowhead Wga 88-88–176
Sophia Montoya, Elmwood Golf Course 86-93–179
Katty Rothberg, Cherry Creek CC Wga 91-89–180
Carla Stearns, Wellshire Women 92-89–181
Jessica Nisbet, Ptarmigan CC Wga 87-94–181
Kimalee Hull, Pinehurst CC Wga 91-94–185
Karen Hale, CC of Castle Pines 96-90–186
Melis Ward, Wellshire Wga 100-87–187
Marie Driessen, The Pinery CC 95-96–191
Patty Smogor, Saddle Rock Wga 94-97–191
Patricia Swanson, West Woods Wga 103-89–192
Ouida Neil, Broadmoor Wga 100-93–193
 
Sixth Flight
Laura Dunston, Canongate Colorado Wgc 89-87–176
Karen Chase, Fox Hollow Lgc 90-88–178
Mariko Coplin, Willis Case Wga 88-90–178
Debbie Mills, Meridian Wga 89-91–180
Jo Ann Higgins, Fox Hill Club Wga 88-92–180
Ria Woodruff, Saddle Rock Wga 88-94–182
Chris Jansen, Broken Tee Wgl 89-95–184
Elizabeth Kraemer, Legacy Ridge Wga 92-94–186
Diane Ferrara, Broken Tee Englewood Wga 96-92–188
Wendy Atkinson, Ranch CC Lga 95-97–192
 
Seventh Flight
Vicki Porter, Foothills Wga 89-86–175
Hee Chung, Meridian Wga 92-84–176
Alison O’Connor, Collindale Wga 95-82–177
Jean Miller, West Woods Wgc 88-92–180
Karen Leuschel, Riverdale Wga 90-91–181
Patricia Sato, Ranch CC Lga 94-87–181
Mary Smith, Fox Hollow Wga 88-96–184
Jenna Knutson, Indian Peaks Golf Club 94-91–185
Andrea Dikeou, Castle Pines Wga 98-90–188
Claudia Gallegos, South Suburban Wga 91-98–189
Emma Robinson, Pueblo CC Wga 94-96–190
Karin Hathaway, Wellshire Women 94-96–190
Linda Raunig, Broken Tee Wgl 102-93–195
Jennifer Tempas, Columbine CC Lga 98-99–197
Lisa Schmid, Green Valley Ranch Wga 106-97–203
Kim Gosche, Saddle Rock Wga 95-WD
 

Which is to say, she’s leading.

The two-time CWGA Player of the Year, who won the 2015 Stroke Play by 21 shots, fired a 1-under-par 71 Tuesday at Denver Country Club, giving her a one-stroke lead after the first round.

The Wake Forest golfer, who competed in the U.S. Women’s Open last month, made three birdies and two bogeys on Tuesday. Kupcho is trying to become the first back-to-back winner of the Stroke Play since Melissa Martin in 2009 and ’10, and the first player since Kim Eaton in 2004 to sweep both the CWGA Match Play and Stroke Play titles in the same year.

University of Colorado golfer Gillian Vance, who teamed with Kupcho to win this year’s CWGA Mashie and for the 2015 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball, sits in second place after firing an even-par 72 on Tuesday. The 2015 5A state high school champion carded two birdies and two bogeys on Tuesday. (Vance and Kupcho are pictured above, with Kupcho at left.)

Taylor Dorans of Erie, a University of Wyoming golfer, shot a 74, good for third place, while Rosana Valdor posted a 75.

Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Janet Moore, who won the first of her five CWGA Stroke Plays in 1991 at Denver Country Club, opened with a 76 and is in fifth place.

After Wednesday’s second round, the top 12 championship/first flight competitors, plus ties, will be separated into a championship flight for Thursday’s final round.

All told, there will be seven flights in addition to the championship.

For interactive scores, click on the following flights:

— Championship/First
— Second
— Third
— Fourth
— Fifth
— Sixth
— Seventh

CWGA Stroke Play

At Par-72 Denver CC

Championship/First Flight
Jennifer Kupcho, Westminster, Colo. – 33-38–71
Gillian Vance, Lakewood, Colo. – 37-35–72
Taylor Dorans, Erie, Colo. – 38-36–74
Rosana Valdor, Denver, Colo. – 39-36–75
Janet Moore, Cherry Hills Village, Colo. – 37-39–76
Calli Ringsby, Denver, Colo. – 38-39–77
Anna Kennedy, Parker, Colo. – 38-40–78
Betsy Kelly, Commerce City, Colo. – 40-38–78
Delaney Elliott, Superior, Colo. – 41-37–78
Jaylee Tait, Littleton, Colo. – 33-45–78
Klara Castillo, Waco, Texas – 38-40–78
Michelle Romano, Littleton, Colo. – 41-37–78
Kylee Sullivan, Colorado Springs, Colo. – 39-40–79
Morgan Sahm, Centennial, Colo. – 38-41–79
Kim Eaton, Mesa, Ariz. – 40-40–80
Mackenzie Cohen, Centennial, Colo. – 40-41–81
Allie Johnston, Castle Rock, Colo. – 39-43–82
Kelly Moran, Boulder, Colo. – 42-40–82
Tori Glenn, Castle Pines, Colo. – 41-41–82
Ashlyn Kirschner, Arvada, Colo. – 41-42–83
Megan McCambridge, Boulder, Colo. – 43-40–83
Sydney Gillespie, Highlands Ranch, Colorado – 41-42–83
Tiffany Maurycy, Denver, Colo. – 40-43–83
Courtney Ewing, Pueblo West, Colo. – 42-42–84
Forre Zook, Colorado Springs, Colorado – 41-47–88

Second Flight
Madison McCambridge, Boulder, Colo. – 37-39–76
Mariah Ehrman, Westminster, Colorado – 37-40–77
Jacquelin Biggs, Englewood, Colo. – 38-41–79
Kacey Godwin, Denver, Colo. – 39-43–82
Maddie Kern, Westminster, Colo. – 42-40–82
Megan Vernon, Conifer, Colorado – 42-41–83
Holly Schaefer, Greenwood Village, Colo. – 41-43–84
Christie Austin, Denver, Colo. – 43-44–87
Kelly Martin, Evergreen, Colo. – 42-45–87

Third Flight
Brittany Roberts, Denver, Colo. – 40-39–79
Kathy Malpass, Evergreen, Colo. – 38-42–80
Emilee Strausburg, Lakewood, Colorado – 41-43–84
Ruth Van Zee, Denver, Colo. – 42-43–85
Cindy Snow, Parker, Colo. – 43-43–86
Jessi McVay, Denver, Colo. – 42-44–86
Katherine Moore-Lilly, Minneapolis, Minnesota – 43-44–87
Jennifer Hocking, Colorado Springs, Colorado – 42-46–88
Nina Dulacki, Denver, Colo. – 48-43–91

Fourth Flight
Kendra George, Littleton, Colo. – 42-39–81
Meagan Arvidson, Aurora, Colo. – 40-41–81
Kate Connor, Highlands Ranch, Colo. – 42-41–83
Mary Doyen, Denver, Colo. – 47-37–84
Sue Hartwell, Arvada, Colo. – 41-43–84
Laurie Steenrod, Aurora, Colo. – 44-41–85
Liz Kennedy, Grand Junction, Colo. – 43-42–85
Karen Williams, Denver, Colo. – 44-44–88
Sandra Young, Monument, Colorado – 45-43–88
Dr. Andrea Grilli, Golden, Colo. – 45-48–93
Kathleen Johnson, Broomfield, Colo. – 44-49–93
LeAnna Rosenow, Arvada, Colo. – 45-48–93

Fifth Flight
Jane Ford, Thornton, Colo. – 43-43–86
Sophia Montoya, Pueblo, Colorado – 42-44–86
Jessica Nisbet, Loveland, Colorado – 42-45–87
Susan Schell, Highlands Ranch, Colo. – 42-46–88
Liza Grant, Denver, Colo. – 47-42–89
Kelli Poppenhagen, Aurora, Colo. – 43-47–90
Katty Rothberg, Denver, Colo. – 48-43–91
Kimalee Hull, Denver, Colo. – 48-43–91
Carla Stearns, Denver, Colo. – 45-47–92
Patty Smogor, Centennial, Colo. – 45-49–94
Marie Driessen, Aurora, Colo. – 45-50–95
Karen Hale, Edwards, Colo. – 46-50–96
Melis Ward, Denver, Colo. – 53-47–100
Ouida Neil, Colorado Springs, Colo. – 49-51–100
Patricia Swanson, Arvada, Colo. – 58-45–103

Sixth Flight
Jo Ann Higgins, Longmont, Colo. – 46-42–88
Mariko Coplin, Lakewood, Colo. – 43-45–88
Ria Woodruff, Aurora, Colo. – 45-43–88
Chris Jansen, Denver, Colo. – 47-42–89
Debbie Mills, Parker, Colo. – 44-45–89
Laura Dunston, Aurora, Colo. – 47-42–89
Karen Chase, Littleton, Colo. – 43-47–90
Elizabeth Kraemer, Westminster, Co 8003, Colo. – 45-47–92
Wendy Atkinson, Westminster, Colo. – 50-45–95
Diane Ferrara, Westminster, Colo. – 49-47–96

Seventh Flight
Jean Miller, Arvada, Colo. – 47-41–88
Mary Smith, Arvada, Colo. – 46-42–88
Vicki Porter, Denver, Colo. – 45-44–89
Karen Leuschel, Broomfield, Colo. – 46-44–90
Claudia Gallegos, Lone Tree, Colo. – 45-46–91
Hee Chung, Aurora, Colo. – 43-49–92
Emma Robinson, Pueblo, Colo. – 52-42–94
Jenna Knutson, Boudler, Colo. – 46-48–94
Karin Hathaway, Denver, Colo. – 45-49–94
Patricia Sato, Westminster, Colo. – 44-50–94
Alison O’Connor, Windsor, Colo. – 47-48–95
Kim Gosche, Denver, Colo. – 49-46–95
Andrea Dikeou, Denver, Colo. – 48-50–98
Jennifer Tempas, Littleton, Colorado – 51-47–98
Linda Raunig, Denver, Colo. – 49-53–102
Lisa Schmid, Denver, Colo. – 58-48–106