On Friday, the 16-year-old from Westminster earned a berth in her third USGA championship of the year — and second through a qualifying tournament held at CommonGround.

Kupcho made an eagle and five birdies Friday in a round of 4-under-par 69 to claim medalist honors in U.S. Women’s Amateur qualifying at CommonGround.

That means the junior-to-be at Jefferson Academy High School will end up competing this summer at the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links, the U.S. Girls’ Junior and the U.S. Women’s Amateur. Not bad for someone who hadn’t had the pleasure of a USGA championship before this year.

“I wanted to qualify for all three that I could, so I’m pretty excited to get to go,” Kupcho said.

All in all, it was a great day for Jennifers Friday at CommonGround, where a field of 40 was competing. Also punching their tickets to the national Women’s Amateur — set for Aug. 5-11 in Charleston, S.C. — were University of Colorado golfer Jennifer Coleman (a bogey-free 71), Korea’s Jennifer Yang (sister of University of Denver golfer Andy Yang, 71) and Hannah Wood of Centennial (72). Yang also qualified in Colorado for the 2012 U.S. Women’s Amateur.

Wood, a member of the Hale Irwin Elite Player Program at CommonGround, prevailed in a one-hole playoff over 2013 CWGA Junior Match Play champion Sydney Merchant of Morrison to claim the fourth and final national berth. Ironically, Wood lost in a one-hole playoff at CommonGround for the last spot in U.S. Girls’ Junior qualifying. On Friday, Wood birdied three of the last four holes of regulation to force the playoff, while Merchant played her last eight holes in 5 under par.

As for Kupcho, in the last two months, she’s finished third in U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links qualifying at Ute Creek, second in U.S. Girls’ Junior qualifying at CommonGround, and now first at U.S. Women’s Amateur qualifying at CommonGround.

“Me and my brother (2012 CGA Player of the Year Steven Kupcho) are kind of having competitions, so when I’m qualifying for stuff it’s pretty exciting,” Jennifer said. “I wanted to qualify, then I let him see what he can do. It’s more of a bragging kind of thing, then we get to go to USGA events.”

Jennifer Kupcho said she’s had trouble with CommonGround in previous years, but she seems to be over that in 2013. On Friday, she rolled in a 45-foot birdie putt on No. 10 and generally excelled with the flat stick in her hand.

“My putting was really, really good,” Kupcho said. “I made basically everything I looked at. I probably made five putts over 10 or 15 feet. … I had a few putting struggles (earlier) but I got it in gear last night and played well today.”

U.S. Women’s Amateur Qualifying
At Par-73 CommonGround GC in Aurora
x-won one-hole playoff

QUALIFIED FOR U.S. WOMEN’S AMATEUR
Jennifer Kupcho, Westminster, Colo. 35-34–69
Jennifer Yang, Republic of Korea 36-35–71
Jennifer Coleman, Rolling Hills Estate, Calif. 35-36–71
x-Hannah Wood, Centennial, Colo. 39-33–72

ALTERNATES (In Order)
Sydney Merchant, Morrison, Colo. 39-33–72
Gigi Stoll, Beaverton, Ore. 38-35–73

FAILED TO QUALIFY

Melissa Martin, Grand Junction, Colo. 39-34–73
Dominique Galloway, Rio Rancho, N.M. 39-35–74
Lou Danienlla Uy, Phillipines 40-34–74
Shinwoo Lee, Aurora, Colo. 39-36–75
Mariah Montoya, Lubbock, Texas 37-38–75
Lauren Falley, Topeka, Kan. 39-37–76
Calli Ringsby, Cherry Hills Village, Colo. 38-39–77
Kristen Coleman, Rolling Hills Estate, Calif. 38-39–77
Samantha Barker, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 39-39–78
Patricia Lee, Commerce City, Colo. 38-41–79
Megan McCambridge, Boulder, Colo. 39-40–79
Anna Young, Canada 41-38–79
Tori Glenn, Castle Rock, Colo. 40-39–79
Marilyn Hardy, Houston, Texas 40-39–79
Mackenzie Cohen, Centennial, Colo. 43-37–80
Jisoo Keel, Canada 39-41–80
Darian Zachek, Deming, N.M. 41-39–80
Sarah Jo Pravacek, Omaha, Neb. 38-42–80
Janet Moore, Cherry Hills Village, Colo. 41-40–81
Amy Hodgkinson, Longmont, Colo. 40-41–81
Bryce Schroeder, Pueblo, Colo. 42-39–81
Samantha Stancato, Colorado Springs, Colo. 40-41–81
Kelly Moran, Boulder, Colo. 42-39–81
Devin Dougherty, Woodland, Calif. 43-38–81
Alexandria Trask, Denver, Colo. 43-39–82
Kristen Cline, Socorro, N.M. 42-40–82
Kathleen Kershisnik, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 40-44–84
Callie Hodgkinson, Longmont, Colo. 41-45–86
Mikayla Tatman, Longmont, Colo. 41-46–87
Taylor Dorans, Erie, Colo. 46-43–89
Emily Fuchs, Cameron, Texas 49-40–89
Jessica Heard, Clinton, Okla. 45-47–92
Shannon Lubar, Littleton, Colo. WD
Anna Laura Gomez Moreno, Mexico WD
 

Out of the original field of 32 golfers, there were 20 Coloradans entered, compared with two Canadians, a Korean and a Kansan.

But at the end of the day, those numbers meant little as the four U.S. Women’s Amateur berths went to the two Canadians, the Korean and the Kansan.

Actually, a Coloradan tied for the fourth-lowest score, but Shinwoo Lee of Aurora wasn’t at the club when a playoff for the final spot was going to take place. So with that, Lauren Falley of Topeka, Kan., who shot a 76 like Lee, earned the national berth.

“That’s not what I was expecting,” Falley said.

One of the Canadians, highly acclaimed Nicole Zhang, landed medalist honors with an even-par 72, while countrywoman Anna Young tied for second at 74 with Korean-born Jennifer Yang, a University of Washington golfer. Falley, an Oklahoma State golfer, shared fourth place with Lee but gained the final berth due to Lee’s absence come playoff time.

All four qualifiers punched their tickets to the Women’s Am, which will be played Aug. 6-12 in Cleveland. (The qualifiers are pictured above, from left, Falley, Yang, Young and Zhang.)

While Young, Yang and Falley qualified for their first U.S. Women’s Amateur, Zhang brought a little star power to Thursday’s qualifying tournament. This will not only be her third consecutive Women’s Am — she made match play two years ago — but she also competed in the 2010 U.S. Women’s Open immediately following her senior year of high school. She’s also played a couple of U.S. Girls’ Juniors.

“It’s definitely special (to go to USGA championships),” Zhang said. “I feel like they’re the best-run tournaments in the world. And I really enjoy traveling to the events. They always choose really great golf courses, and it’s fun to see all my friends again.”

Zhang was the top-ranked freshman in the country during her first and only season (2010-11) playing at Notre Dame, but after not competing last season, she’s transferred to Northwestern.

On Thursday, Zhang used a stellar start to carry her to medalist honors. With four birdies, she was 4 under par through 11 holes. But a double bogey and a couple of bogeys down the stretch left her at even par overall.

Yang likewise started fast — 2 under through four holes — while both Young and Falley finished with a flurry, playing the last four holes in 2 under.

While both Young and Yang are from out of state, this is the second time each has qualified in Colorado for a USGA championship. Last year, Young went to Valley Country Club to earn a spot in the U.S. Girls’ Junior. And last month, Yang went to Spring Valley Country Club to land a berth in the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links, where she advanced to the final 16.

“It’s a really big deal” to make it to the U.S. Women’s Amateur, said Yang, whose brother Andy plays golf for the University of Denver. “It’s nice.”

Young, who is transferring from the University of Tulsa to the University of Florida, likewise is relishing her first trip to the Women’s Am.

“It will be awesome,” she said. “I’m super excited. Hopefully it will be one of many for the next couple of years. I’m really excited to go.”

For Falley, this is not only her first U.S. Women’s Amateur, but her first USGA championship of any sort.

“It’s pretty exciting,” said the 2008 Kansas 4A state high school champion. “I’ve been trying to qualify ever since I was little for the U.S. Girls’ and all that, so it’s kind of a chip off the shoulder finally to do it.”

U.S. Women’s Amateur Sectional Qualifying
At Par-72 Pinery CC in Parker

ADVANCE TO U.S. WOMEN’S AMATEUR
Nicole Zhang, Calgary, Canada – 33-39–72
Jennifer Yang, Seattle, Wash. – 35-39–74
Anna Young, Canada, Saskatchewan, Canada – 38-36–74
Lauren Falley, Topeka, Kan. – 39-37–76

ALTERNATES (In order)
Shinwoo Lee, Aurora, Colo. – 38-38–76
Samantha Stancato, Colorado Springs, Colo. – 38-39–77

FAILED TO QUALIFY
Calli Ringsby, Cherry Hills Village, Colo. – 38-39–77
Somin Lee, Denver, Colo. – 38-39–77
Amy Hodgkinson, Longmont, Colo. – 39-39–78
Juanita Rico, Laramie, Wyo. – 37-41–78
Allie Johnston, Castle Rock, Colo. – 37-42–79
Paige Crawford, Colorado Springs, Colo. – 38-41–79
Maggie Yuan, Draper – 39-40–79
Paige Spiranac, Colorado Springs, Colo. – 39-41–80
Marilyn Hardy, Houston, Texas – 40-40–80
Christina Spinzig, Evergreen, Colo. – 39-43–82
Kathleen Kershisnik, Highlands Ranch, Colo. – 42-40–82
Megan McCambridge, Boulder, Colo. – 43-39–82
Patricia Lee, Lone Tree, Colo. – 38-45–83
Kelly Moran, Boulder, Colo. – 40-43–83
Jessie Joachim, Hudson, Colo. – 42-42–84
Taylor Buck, Littleton, Colo. – 41-43–84
Anna Christenson, Denver, Colo. – 40-44–84
Dominique Dinallo, Pueblo, N.M. – 40-45–85
Jennifer Kempton, Littleton, Colo. – 43-43–86
Emily Woodard, Cheyenne, Wyo. – 45-47–92
Ryan Ashburn, Largo, Fla. – 47-46–93
Stacey Blunt, Federal Way, Wash. – 47-46–93
Kaylee Koeppen, Scottsbluff, Neb. – WD
Molly Dorans, Erie, Colo. – WD
Emily Talley, Boulder, Colo. – NS
Janet Moore, Greenwood Village, Colo. – WD
 

Kimberly Kim, who later would play golf for the University of Denver, made history by winning the U.S. Women’s Amateur at age 14 in 2006.

What Morgan Sahm of Centennial accomplished on Monday certainly isn’t in that league, but when a 14-year-old even qualifies for a USGA championship that’s open to all ages, it’s still quite a feat.

Sahm, who won’t be a freshman in high school until the fall, earned one of four available spots in the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship in qualifying held Monday at Spring Valley Golf Club in Elizabeth.

“It’s definitely awesome,” said Sahm (pictured above), who’s just in her fourth year playing golf. “This means a lot. It kind of does (surprise me), but I work really hard. I just hope I can continue playing this well this year.”

Sahm shot a 5-over-par 77 to share third place out of Monday’s qualifying field, which was reduced to 16 by three withdrawals. She’ll be joined at the national Women’s Publinks by qualifying medalist Kayla Riede of Dixon, Calif. (74), Jennifer Yang of Seattle (76) and former Coloradan Lindsay McGetrick (77).

The U.S. WAPL will be played June 18-23 in Neshanic, N.J. Riede and Yang will be going to the national tournament for the second time, while McGetrick and Sahm will be making their U.S. Women’s Publinks debut.

It should be noted that all of the other three qualifiers are college golfers — Riede (pictured at left with USGA official Bob Austin) goes to the University of Tulsa, Yang to the University of Washington and McGetrick to North Carolina State — while Sahm won’t start high school at Grandview until the fall.

On Monday, McGetrick and Sahm prevailed in a three-person playoff for the final two national berths. It looked like Sahm was going to be the odd player out when she mis-hit her opening drive in sudden death and ended up about 100 yards short of both McGetrick and Paige Crawford of Colorado Springs.

McGetrick advanced with a routine par on the hole, and when Sahm came up short with her approach on the par-4 and later missed an 8-foot par putt, it opened the door for Crawford. But the Montana State golfer couldn’t convert her 3-foot par putt and she and Sahm moved on to the par-3 second hole.

There, both players hit their tee balls into the front bunker, and Crawford’s sand shot ran 15 feet past the pin. Sahm cozied her bunker shot to within a foot, and after Crawford missed, Sahm earned the final national berth with a tap-in par.

“Every time I’m in a playoff, I lose, so I thought, ‘It’s OK, another loss,'” said Sahm, who went 2 under par in her last four holes of regulation to force a playoff. “I honestly thought I was going to lose to Paige.”

McGetrick, whose father Mike is an acclaimed golf instructor, grew up in Highlands Ranch but now lives with her family in South Carolina. However, she continues to make her mark in Colorado. During her time in the state, she won the 2010 CWGA Junior Match Play Championship and the 2011 4A state high school title, and she made it to match play at the 2010 U.S. Girls’ Junior.

Monday marked a visit back to Colorado to visit friends, as well as a last week packed full of tournaments — the HealthOne Colorado Women’s Open at Green Valley Ranch, the U.S. Women’s Open qualifying at the Broadmoor, and the U.S. WAPL qualifying at Spring Valley.

And while she missed the cut in the Colorado’s Women’s Open and finished in the middle of the pack in the U.S. Women’s Open qualifying, McGetrick isn’t leaving the state without another USGA championship berth.

“It was an exciting way to end things,” she said of Monday’s playoff. “I’m glad I came through and was able to make it. It’s definitely an accomplishment. I’m excited to be able to qualify.”

Riede played the same trio of Colorado tournaments as McGetrick did. In her case, it worked out nicely as a weeklong stopover in the Centennial State on her drive back home to Dixon, Calif., from Tulsa, Okla.

“I’ve been here for a while,” Riede said, noting that she also played an NCAA regional tournament at Colorado National Golf Club in Erie last month.

Yang, meanwhile, is spending the summer in Colorado with her Korean-born parents and her brother, Andy Yang, who plays golf for the University of Denver.

U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Sectional Qualifying
At Par-72 Spring Valley GC in Elizabeth

Qualified for U.S. WAPL
Kayla Riede, Dixon, Calif. 39-35–74
Jennifer Yang, Seattle, Wash. 38-38–76
Lindsay McGetrick, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 37-40–77
Morgan Sahm, Centennial, Colo. 40-37–77

Alternates (in order)
Paige Crawford, Colorado Springs, Colo. 38-39–77
Allie Johnston, Castle Rock, Colo. 41-38–79

Failed to Qualify
Katherine Scott, Cherry Hills Village, Colo. 39-40–79
Molly Dorans, Erie, Colo. 41-39–80
Katie Kim, Riverwoods, Ill. 40-40–80
Patricia Lee, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 37-44–81
Maren Scoggins, Denver, Colo. 40-42–82
Hannah Wood, Centennial, Colo. 43-39–82
Bryce Schroeder, Pueblo, Colo. 39-44–83
Jennifer Kempton, Littleton, Colo. 44-40–84
Jodie Streeter, Englewood, Colo. 45-43–88
Jennifer Hocking, Colorado Springs, Colo. 45-45–90
Taylor Buck, Littleton, Colo. WD
Tori Glenn, Castle Rock, Colo. WD