There was a time, not so long ago, that arguably the biggest name in women’s amateur golf worldwide was Kimberly Kim.

After all, she was — and still is — the youngest winner in the history of the U.S. Women’s Amateur (14 in 2006). And three other times, she finished runner-up in USGA championships — twice in the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links and once in the U.S. Girls’ Junior.

And after her one — and, as it turned out, only — season as a University of Denver golfer, she qualified at The Broadmoor and made her pro debut at the 2010 U.S. Women’s Open. Then in the fall of that year, she earned her LPGA Tour card in her first time trying as a pro. But after competing on the top women’s tour in the world, the Hawaii native lost her card at the end of 2011.

Ever since then, it’s been an uphill battle for Kim (pictured above) to live up to the extremely high standard she set for herself as a teenager.

“At first it was (difficult),” she said Wednesday after completing the first round of the HealthOne Colorado Women’s Open at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in northeast Denver. “But I think I was playing bad for so long that now I don’t really worry about it. Now I’m just trying to build up.”

Earlier this month, Kim missed out on her chance to earn an LPGA Tour card for 2016 after failing to advance out of stage I of qualifying. But on Wednesday, she showed some positive signs in shooting a 2-under-par 70 at GVR and sharing third place after the opening round of the 21st Colorado Women’s Open.

Karinn Dickinson of Scottsdale, Ariz., a former University of Washington golfer, made six birdies and fired a 5-under-par 67 to grab the day 1 lead. Allison Emrey of Charlotte, N.C., a former Wake Forest golfer who recently turned pro, stands in solo second place at 69. 

A total of 10 players broke par on Wednesday, with Kim being one of them despite bogeying her final two holes.

“I was playing really solid at the start,” said the just-turned 24-year-old, who lived in Pueblo for a time before moving back to Hawaii. “I was hitting it really well. On the back (nine), I think I was thinking of my score too much so I screwed up at the end.

“This course is tough. It’s kind of tight and the greens are rolling really fast, which is good. But it’s set up tough.”

This is Kim’s second time playing the Colorado Women’s Open. She placed 38th two years ago. But Wednesday marked the best of her four competitive rounds at GVR as she carded five birdies and three bogeys.

“I’m starting to play better overall,” she said. “I was injured at the beginning of the year (broken right hand) so maybe the break helped me.”

Meanwhile, considering the record three-day scoring total for a Colorado Women’s Open at GVR is 7 under par (Becca Huffer in 2013), Dickinson (left) is certainly off to a good start with her 5-under 67.

“I went in with the mindset of no expectations — just to have fun,” said the 26-year-old, who played in the 2013 U.S. Women’s Open. “I haven’t been playing great lately, so it’s great to finally put a good round together. Everything just came into place today. These greens here are fast, they’re good, and they can be tricky. But I felt like I stayed patient and calm and let the game come to me.”

Dickinson has status on the Symetra Tour, but has played on that circuit just twice this year. She helps in the golf shop at Troon Country Club in Scottsdale, and plays in state opens and Cactus Tour events, but is skipping Q-school this year.

“I really haven’t been dialed in with my game as much I’d like this year, so I kind of took time off to regroup, go back to the drawing board and make a new plan,” she said.

Despite missing the cut in her only previous Colorado Women’s Open appearance, Dickinson called the CWO “probably my favorite tournament of the year.”

Kupchos Hosting Emrey, Who Shoots 69: Last year, amateur Jennifer Kupcho from Westminster finished second at the Colorado Women’s Open and ran away with low-amateur honors.

Kupcho, who recently advanced to the round of 16 at the U.S. Women’s Amateur, isn’t back this year as she’s already headed to Wake Forest to prepare for her first season as a college golfer. But her parents, Mike and Janet, were still at Green Valley Ranch on Wednesday as they’re serving as a host family for competitor Allison Emrey (left), who wrapped up her college career at Wake Forest in the spring.

And, coincidentally, Emrey sits in second place after Wednesday, having shot a 3-under-par 69 with Mike Kupcho caddying for her.

The Kupchos met Emrey at the Women’s Western National Amateur earlier this summer and suggested she look into competing at the CWO. Emrey turned pro in July and has since advanced to stage 2 of LPGA Tour qualifying. The Colorado Women’s Open is her fourth event as a pro.

“I have a great caddie,” said Emrey, who made five birdies and two bogeys on the day. “There’s a few challenging holes (at GVR), but Mr. Kupcho helped me out a little bit as far as where to hit it — a good plan and a safe plan. If you can navigate around the course and take the best odds, you’re going to play well out here.”

Notable: The top Coloradan on the scoreboard after Wednesday’s first round is Symetra Tour player Ashley Tait of Littleton, who posted a 2-under-par 70 and shares third place. The 2008 CWGA Stroke Play champion made three birdies and one bogey on the day. … Rachel Sweeney of Highlands Ranch, who teamed with Megan McCambridge to win the 2014 CWGA Mashie Championship, leads the amateur standings after round 1, in which she shot a 1-under-par 71. Sweeney plays college golf at Lewis University in Illinois. … The field will be cut to the low 44 players and ties after Thursday’s second round of the 54-hole tournament, which concludes on Friday. … Two Coloradans who have won the Colorado Women’s Open in the last decade, Becca Huffer (2013) and Erin Houtsma (2005), struggled considerably in round 1. Huffer carded an 82 and Houtsma an 81.

For scores from the Colorado Women’s Open, CLICK HERE.

A grand total of one amateur has won the HealthOne Colorado Women’s Open in the first 19 years the tournament has been contested.

Jennifer Kupcho would be only too happy to give Paige Mackenzie, the 2006 champion, some company.

Certainly a victory would be an ideal cap to the season for the 17-year-old from Westminster. In the last three-plus months, Kupcho has won the 4A state high school tournament, the CWGA Junior Stroke Play, the CWGA Match Play and the CJGA 14-18 Junior Series Championship.

On Wednesday, competing against a field that includes roughly a dozen Symetra Tour players, Kupcho shot a bogey-free 6-under-par 66 at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club to grab a one-stroke lead after round 1 of the 54-hole event.

“That was my low round ever, and it was a tough golf course,” said the senior at Jefferson Academy. “It’s a boost of confidence. It’s exciting. I’m kind of in shock right now.”

The Wake Forest recruit birdied six of her final 11 holes after starting with seven consecutive pars. Three of her birdie putts came from at least 15 feet. She capped things off with two straight birdies — an 18-footer on No. 8 (her 17th hole) and a 5-footer on No. 9.

Kupcho holds a one-shot advantage on touring professional Lauren Mielbrecht of Gulf Stream, Fla., who made seven birdies en route to a 67. Three players are tied for third place at 69: Olivia Jordan-Higgins from the island of Jersey off the coast of France; Samantha Richdale of Canada; and Garrett Phillips of St. Simons Island, Ga.

Ironically, Kupcho’s 66 came after she’s significantly cut back on golf after starting her senior year of high school two weeks ago.

“Truthfully, I haven’t played a round except for a practice round here last weekend,” she said. “I kind of just practiced. I took a week and a half off because school started and I didn’t really have time for golf.

“Traveling all over the place (in July) and coming back and being able to take a break was good.”

Kupcho is playing in her third Colorado Women’s Open. She missed the cut in her previous two appearances.

Mielbrecht (left) started her round in style on Wednesday. The 27-year-old went birdie-birdie-birdie-birdie on the way to her 67.

“That was fun, right?” she said. “I was like, ‘He (amateur partner Sai Yamagata) probably thinks I’m not human yet until I make a par.'”

Mielbrecht, who plays a variety of tours — including in Europe and Canada, finished with seven birdies and two bogeys for the day.

The former University of Virginia golfer finished fourth as an amateur in the Colorado Women’s Open in 2007, and is right in the mix again as a professional.

“It’s a fun course to play and I love coming here,” she said. “It was a good day for sure.”

Because of the 1.8 inches of rain (left) that fell on Monday night — and despite considerable course work done by the maintenance staff in the interim — competitors played lift, clean and place on Wednesday.

So Close to the Big Time: Olivia Jordan-Higgins shot a 69 and was among the leaders Wednesday at the Colorado Women’s Open. But she was ever so close to instead competing on the LPGA Tour this year.

The player from the English Channel Island of Jersey finished 11th on the 2013 Symetra Tour money list. The significance of that is that the top 10 automatically earned 2014 LPGA Tour cards.

How close did Jordan-Higgins come to the No. 10 spot? A mere $114.

“I kind of put that down to why I’m mentally struggling this year,” the 26-year-old said Wednesday. “But I’m getting there.”

Jordan-Higgins is 45th on the 2014 Symetra money list. She’s coming off a season-best-tying finish of fifth in the Eagle Classic on Aug. 18.

Notable: Becca Huffer of Denver, who won the tournament last year and finished second in 2012, opened with a 4-over-par 76 and shares 25th place. … The championship player field will be cut to the low 40 players and ties after Thursday’s second round. … Kupcho holds an eight-stroke lead in the amateur competition. Delaney Elliott of Superior stands in second place at 74. … Scott Wylie of Denver and Tara Morris of Dodge City, Kan., shot a 12-under-par 60 and lead the pro-am competition by two.

Scores: For all the scores from the HealthOne Colorado Women’s Open, CLICK HERE.

This year is no exception, but at least a couple of competitors in this week’s tournament have already made some history in the game.

When the 19th annual Women’s Open is played Wednesday through Friday (Sept. 4-6) at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in northeast Denver, two of the most well-known players will be Kimberly Kim and Amy Anderson.

Kim (pictured) won the U.S. Women’s Amateur in 2006 at the age of 14 years, 11 months and 21 days, becoming the youngest champion in the history of the event, which was first played in 1895. And she still holds that distinction to this day.

Kim went on to play one season of college golf at the University of Denver before turning pro. She competed on the LPGA Tour in 2011, but lost her card after one season.

Anderson, meanwhile, this year completed a college career at North Dakota State in which she established the women’s NCAA Division I record with 20 career victories, breaking the old mark of 17 set by Juli Inkster at San Jose State.

Anderson, the 2009 U.S. Girls’ Junior champion, turned pro a few months ago and last week easily played well enough in the first stage of LPGA Tour qualifying to earn a berth in the second of three stages.

“Being a professional golfer and making it on the LPGA has always been a goal of mine,” Anderson told the Bismarck (N.D.) Tribune. “I’ve been incredibly blessed. I’ve had a lot of success in the past and that’s good for my confidence. I can draw from that in the future.”

While Kim and Anderson have achieved more notoriety than most, there are plenty of other competitors in the Colorado Women’s Open who have impressive credentials.

Among them are two-time Colorado state high school champion Kelly Jacques, who is conditionally exempt on the LPGA Tour this year; fully-exempt 2013 LPGA Tour players Kris Tamulis and Ashli Bunch; Ladies European Tour member Dawn Shockley; former LPGA card-holder Katie Kempter; former Colorado collegians Emily Childs and Alex Stewart, who last week earned berths in the second stage of LPGA Q-school; two-time state high school champ Becca Huffer, twice a runner-up in the Colorado Women’s Open; Emily Talley, who is playing in two of Golf Channel’s “Big Break” competitions this year; University of Denver senior Tonje Daffinrud, recently named by Golf World magazine one of the top 50 female college players to watch this coming season; and former Colorado Women’s Open champions Erin Houtsma and Joy Trotter.

The Colorado Women’s Open will feature a total of purse of $73,000, with $55,000 up for grabs in the championship and $18,000 in the concurrent pro-am. The low professional will receive $11,000.

Traditionally played early in the season, the Women’s Open switched dates with the HealthOne Colorado Senior Open this year in hopes that both would attract better fields.