It’s been a heady time for the best of the best in Colorado golf.

Earlier this year, two twentysomethings born and raised in the Centennial State earned PGA Tour cards for the first time: Wyndham Clark and Jim Knous.

And on Saturday, two of their female counterparts — Colorado natives who grew up in the state — followed suit on the LPGA side.

Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster and Becca Huffer of Denver not only obtained LPGA Tour cards for 2019 through the inaugural Q-Series that concluded on Saturday in Pinehurst, N.C., they did it with plenty of room to spare.

With the top 45 finishers and ties in the eight-round Q-Series landing LPGA status, Kupcho, the NCAA individual champion from Wake Forest, finished second out of 102 players. She played her last eight holes at Pinehurst No. 7 in 4 under par en route to a 2-under 70 on Saturday. Her 17-under-par 559 total left her a stroke behind medalist Jeongeun Lee 6 of South Korea. (Kupcho is pictured above in an LPGA photo.)

“It’s amazing,” Kupcho said by phone on Saturday afternoon. “It was a marathon out there, and I was just kind of plugging along as each day went by. I’ve been shooting for this goal for so long that it’s awesome to just be able to go back to school knowing that I have what I’m going to do after college already in the bank.”

As for Huffer, the 2013 CoBank Colorado Women’s Open champion and Symetra Tour veteran also landed in the top 10, in 10th place. She closed with a 73 to post a 3-under-par 573 total.

“Going into this week I knew I could do it,” Huffer said, also by phone on Saturday. “I just played my game. I’m excited to get it all done.”

Also earning a card on Saturday was University of Colorado junior Robyn Choi, who’s qualified in Colorado for the last two U.S. Women’s Opens. Choi birdied two of her last three holes on Saturday to land an exemption on the number, tying for 45th place.

After also coming into the final day in 45th place, Choi played her first eight holes in 4 over par. But she went 2 under par the rest of the way to tie for the final qualifying spots. Choi closed with a 2-over-par 74 to finish at 10-over-par 586.

Choi accomplished the feat of qualifying for the LPGA Tour despite starting 79-79 in the Q-Series. The rest of the way, she posted scores of 67-76-74-69-68-74.

While Huffer (left in an LPGA photo) will start her rookie LPGA season early in 2019 given that’s she’s long been a pro, Kupcho confirmed on Saturday that she’ll defer becoming an LPGA member until after her final college season at Wake Forest wraps up in May. Kupcho, who will graduate in May with a degree in communications, has finished sixth, second and first individually in her first three NCAA championships.

“I was always going to go back (to school), no matter what,” she said. “I just want to get the degree and get out and have that as a backup.”

Choi (below in an LPGA photo) will have the same option as Kupcho. Amateurs were given the possibility of a deferment for the first time this fall.

By winning the 2018 McCormack Medal as the top women’s amateur in the world, Kupcho would have automatic spots in next year’s U.S. Women’s Open and Ricoh Women’s British Open — but only if she remained an amateur. But she said she plans to go pro before the 2019 U.S. Women’s Open (May 30-June 2), so she’ll need to qualify to get in the field. Kupcho has played in two U.S. Women’s Opens, finishing 21st in 2017.

In a year in which she won an NCAA individual title, has been the No. 1-ranked women’s golfer in the world, helped three U.S. national teams to titles in international competition and posted her first top-20 finish in an LPGA event, Kupcho achieved a bigger-picture goal on Saturday.

The 21-year-old Littleton native qualified for the LPGA Tour in her first try, and made it look relatively effortless. Kupcho’s only over-par score in the Q-Series came on opening day, when she carded a 1-over 73. She finished 27 strokes ahead of the final players who earned their LPGA cards. Her runner-up showing will give her priority getting into LPGA tournaments over players who finished below her in the Q-Series.

“When it started out (in the Q-Series), the courses seemed so hard,” Kupcho said. “The first week I was just shooting for par, and I took that mentality the rest of the way. I was able to get a couple of really low rounds that helped boost me and give me that cushion.”

Huffer, who like Kupcho won two state high school titles in Colorado, likewise met the standard with plenty to spare — 13 strokes in her case.

“This year I’ve played really well,” she said. “I was feeling really good about my game. The new format they had for Q-Series, I thought it really worked well for my game — consistency and stuff. I was excited to accomplish my goal.”

Indeed, it’s quite an accomplishment for two golfers who have both been CWGA Players of the Year over the last decade — Kupcho three times and Huffer once.

Kupcho won the CWGA Stroke Play title three straight times (2015-17) and the Match Play twice (2014 and ’16), in addition to the Junior Stroke Play in 2014

Huffer, a Denver native and current Monument resident, demonstrated she might be on the verge of a breakthrough with a strong season on the Symetra Tour. The 2012 U.S. Women’s Open qualifier finished 21st on the 2018 Symetra money list, with three top-10 finishes, including a runner-up and a third place. Huffer, a Littleton High School and Notre Dame graduate, is 28 years old. She won the CWGA Match Play title and Junior Stroke Play in 2005 as a 15-year-old. Huffer reportedly is the first Notre Dame alum to earn an LPGA Tour card.

Here are the round-by-round scores for the players with strong Colorado connections (Note: The first four rounds were played at Pinehurst No. 6, and the final four at Pinehurst No. 7):

Earned LPGA Tour Card
2. Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster 73-72-68-67-71-69-69-70–559
10. Becca Huffer of Denver 77-76-70-70-68-72-67-73–573
45. CU golfer Robyn Choi 79-79-67-76-74-69-68-74–586
Failed to Earn LPGA Tour Card
93. Former CU golfer Jenny Coleman 75-75-74-72-79-77-76-76–604

For complete results, CLICK HERE.
 

University of Colorado junior Robyn Choi, who has qualified in Colorado for the last two U.S. Women’s Open, has shot 69-68 the last two days to move up to 45th place. And, coincidentally, the top 45 finishers and ties after Saturday’s eighth round will earn LPGA status for 2019.

Choi made four birdies and no bogeys on Friday at Pinehurst No. 7 and checks in at 8-over-par 512 for seven rounds.

Kupcho and Huffer didn’t complete round 7 before play was suspended due to darkness, so Kupcho will have to go 24 holes on Saturday and Huffer 21. But both are in very good shape to land their cards.

Kupcho, the Wake Forest senior who won the 2018 NCAA individual title, was 3 under par through 12 holes on Friday as she made three birdies and no bogeys on the day and sits at 15 under par overall. The No. 1-ranked women’s amateur in the world remains near the top of the leaderboard — in third place, two strokes behind leader Sarah Schmelzel.

Huffer, the 2013 CoBank Colorado Women’s Open champion who’s been a regular on the Symetra Tour in recent years, moved up into 10th place on Friday, when she was 4 under par, having made five birdies in her 15 holes. She checked in at 3 under par overall.

Amateurs — such as Kupcho (pictured above in an LPGA photo) and Choi (left, also in an LPGA photo) — 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 for the players with strong Colorado connections (Note: The first four rounds were played at Pinehurst No. 6, and the final four are being held at Pinehurst No. 7):

3. Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster 73-72-68-67-71-69-(-3 through 12)–(-15 overall)
10. Becca Huffer of Denver 77-76-70-70-68-72-(-4 through 15)–(-3 overall)
45. CU golfer Robyn Choi 79-79-67-76-74-69–68–512
95. Former CU golfer Jenny Coleman 75-75-74-72-79-77-76–528

For complete results, CLICK HERE.
 

It’s little wonder why the two are both near the top of the scoreboard with just two rounds left in the eight-round final stage of LPGA Tour qualifying.

Kupcho, the NCAA individual champion from Wake Forest, has shot just one over-par round in the six played so far — that being a 1-over 73 on day 1. Over the last four rounds, the world’s No. 1-ranked women’s amateur is 13 under par. Overall, she stands at 12-under 420, in a tie for third place and just two strokes out of the lead held by Sarah Schmelzel and Klara Smilkova.

On Thursday, Kupcho posted a 4-under 32 on her first nine and a 3-under 69 for the day. She ended up with five birdies and two bogeys in round 6, held at Pinehurst No. 7.

With the top 45 finishers and ties after Saturday’s final round earning 2019 LPGA Tour cards, Kupcho is in outstanding shape. As of the end of play on Thursday, a 440 total was in 45th place.

Huffer, the 2013 CoBank Colorado Open champion, is seven shots better than the cut-off point as an even-par 72 on Thursday put her at 1-over 433. Over the last four rounds, Huffer is 8 under par.

On Thursday, Huffer had a three-birdie, three-bogey day. The Coloradan has been a regular on the Symetra Tour in recent years.

Amateurs — such as Kupcho (pictured above in a photo courtesy of her family) — 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 for the players with strong Colorado connections (Note: The first four rounds were played at Pinehurst No. 6, and the final four are being held at Pinehurst No. 7):

3. Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster 73-72-68-67-71-69–420
12. Becca Huffer of Denver 77-76-70-70-68-72–433
61. CU golfer Robyn Choi 79-79-67-76-74-69—444
90. Former CU golfer Jenny Coleman 75-75-74-72-79-77–452

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

Between them, Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster and Becca Huffer of Denver have won four state high school titles and four CWGA Player of the Year awards.

And now, both are in very good position heading into the final three rounds of the LPGA Q-Series where 2019 Tour cards will be distributed.

With the top 45 finishers and ties after Saturday’s eighth round of the Q-Series landing LPGA berths, Kupcho sits in fourth place out of 102 players in Pinehurst, N.C. And Huffer is tied for 14th place.

Kupcho, the No. 1-ranked women’s amateur in the world, shot a 1-under-par 71 on Wednesday at Pinehurst No. 7 and checked in at 9-under-par 351 overall, four behind leader Klara Spilkova. Huffer fired a fifth-round 68 and stands at 361. As of Wednesday, the players at 367 were tied for 44th place.

Kupcho, the senior from Wake Forest who won the NCAA Division I individual title in May, made four birdies and three bogeys on Wednesday. Huffer (pictured below), the 2013 CoBank Colorado Open champion, went bogey-free on Wednesday, making four birdies on the day.

Amateurs — such as Kupcho (pictured above in a photo courtesy of her family) — 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 for the players with strong Colorado connections (Note: The first four rounds were played at Pinehurst No. 6, and the final four are being held at Pinehurst No. 7):

4. Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster 73-72-68-67-71–351
14. Becca Huffer of Denver 77-76-70-70-68–361
77. Former CU golfer Jenny Coleman 75-75-74-72-79–375
77. CU golfer Robyn Choi 79-79-67-76-74–375

For complete results, CLICK HERE.
 

Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster is in excellent shape as rounds of 68-67 over the weekend vaulted the No. 1 women’s amateur in the world into third place in the 102-player Q-Series field.

And with the top 45 finishers and ties after eight rounds earning spots on the LPGA Tour, Becca Huffer of Denver moved into the top 40 on Sunday with her second consecutive 2-under-par 70 at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina.

If the Q-Series had ended on Sunday, a total of 6-over 294 or better would have been enough to earn LPGA Tour cards. Kupcho, the NCAA Division I champion from Wake Forest, shares third place at 8-under-par 280. Huffer is tied for 36th place at 293. (Kupcho is pictured on Sunday in a photo courtesy of her family.)

And the other two competitors with strong Colorado ties are not far off the pace with four rounds remaining. Former University of Colorado golfer Jenny Coleman is tied for 51st at 296, while current CU golfer Robyn Choi is 87th at 301.

After two off-days, the second half of the Q-Series will run Wednesday through Saturday (Oct. 31-Nov. 3) also at the Pinehurst Resort, but on the No. 7 course. Scores are cumulative for the eight rounds of the event.

Amateurs — such as Kupcho — 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.

No one scored better over the weekend than did Kupcho, who along with U.S. Curtis Cup teammate Lauren Stephenson went 68-67 on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. On Sunday, Kupcho went bogey-free, making five birdies on the day. The 21-year-old trails Q-Series leader Klara Spilkova by five strokes.

Meanwhile, Huffer, the 2013 CoBank Colorado Women’s Open champion, made four birdies and two bogeys on Sunday at Pinehurst No. 6 to leave herself in good shape going into the final four rounds.

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

3. Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster 73-72-68-67–280
36. Becca Huffer of Denver 77-76-70-70–293
51. Former CU golfer Jenny Coleman 75-75-74-72–296
87. CU golfer Robyn Choi 79-79-67-76–301

For complete results, CLICK HERE.
     

The Westminster resident (left in a photo courtesy of the Kupcho family) was one stroke off the lowest round of the day on Saturday in shooting a 4-under-par 68 and shares seventh place after the third round of the eight-round event in Pinehurst, N.C.

Kupcho, the NCAA Division I champion from Wake Forest who’s the No. 1-ranked women’s amateur in the world, used an eagle on her 15th hole Saturday to shoot a 4-under 32 on her back nine. She finished with an eagle, four birdies and two bogeys to check in at 3-under 213 overall. She trails leader Klara Spilkova by eight.

The Q-Series features two 72-hole stroke-play tournaments held on consecutive weeks — Wednesday through Sunday and Oct. 31-Nov. 3, both at Pinehurst Resort. Scores are cumulative over the two weeks, with the top 45 finishers and ties earning LPGA cards. As of the end of Saturday’s round, the players at 5-over 221 and better were inside the top 45.

Amateurs — such as Kupcho — 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.

Two other players with strong Colorado ties also posted under-par rounds on Saturday, though they remain outside the top 45 in the 102-player field.

University of Colorado golfer Robyn Choi, who started the Q-Series with back-to-back rounds of 79, tied for the low round of the day on Saturday as she made six birdies en route to a 67, leaving her at 225 and in 78th place.

And Becca Huffer of Denver carded a 70 to check in at 223, good for 59th place. One stroke behind her is former CU golfer Jenny Coleman, who recorded a 74 on Saturday.

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

7. Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster 73-72-68–213
59. Becca Huffer of Denver 77-76-70–223
70. Former CU golfer Jenny Coleman 75-75-74–224
78. CU golfer Robyn Choi 79-79-67–225

For complete results, CLICK HERE.
 

The reigning NCAA champion from Wake Forest, who’s ranked No. 1 in the world in women’s amateur golf, shot an even-par 72 on Thursday at Pinehurst No. 6 and checks in at 1-over-par 145 overall. She trails leader Klara Spilkova by nine strokes. (Kupcho is pictured on Thursday in a photo courtesy of the Kupcho family.)

Six rounds remain in the Q-Series, which serves as the final stage of LPGA Q-school. The Q-Series features two 72-hole stroke-play tournaments held on consecutive weeks — Wednesday through Saturday and Oct. 31-Nov. 3, both at Pinehurst Resort. Scores are cumulative over the two weeks, with the top 45 finishers and ties earning LPGA cards. A $150,000 purse is at stake for the pros.

Amateurs — such as Kupcho — 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.

The other golfers with strong Colorado ties in the 102-player field have some work to do to get in the top 45. Former University of Colorado golfer Jenny Coleman, who had conditional status on the LPGA Tour in 2017, is in 53rd place, Becca Huffer of Denver in 78th and CU golfer Robyn Choi in 98th.

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

13. Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster 73-72–145
53. Former CU golfer Jenny Coleman 75-75–150
78. Becca Huffer of Denver 77-76–153
98. CU golfer Robyn Choi 79-79–158

For complete results, CLICK HERE.
 

The Q-Series, which in essence serves as the final stage of LPGA Q-school, began Wednesday in Pinehurst, N.C., with four players with strong Colorado ties competing in the 102-golfer field.

Jennifer Kupcho (left) of Westminster, the No. 1-ranked women’s amateur in the world, opened with a 1-over-par 73, which leaves her tied for 19th place at the Pinehurst Resort, which is less than 100 miles from her university, Wake Forest, where she’s a senior. Kupcho, the reigning women’s NCAA Division I individual champion, made a birdie and two bogeys on Wednesday.

The Q-Series features two 72-hole stroke-play tournaments held on consecutive weeks — Wednesday through Saturday and Oct. 31-Nov. 3, both at Pinehurst Resort. Scores are cumulative over the two weeks, with the top 45 finishers and ties earning LPGA cards. A $150,000 purse will be on the line.

Amateurs — such as Kupcho — 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.

Former University of Colorado golfer Jenny Coleman, who had conditional status on the LPGA Tour in 2017, shot a 75 on Wednesday, which leaves her in 40th place. Becca Huffer of Denver opened with a 77 (74th place) and CU golfer Robyn Choi a 79 (91st place).

This week’s four rounds are taking place at Pinehurst No. 6 and next week’s at Pinehurst No. 7.

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

19. Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster 73
40. Former CU golfer Jenny Coleman 75
74. Becca Huffer of Denver 77
91. CU golfer Robyn Choi 79

For complete results, CLICK HERE.
 

It’s gut-check time for players on the bubble on many of the world’s top golf tours.

That comes with the territory this time of year as tours wind down their season schedules. And plenty of those doing some figurative nail-biting are golfers with strong Colorado connections.

Some of those players are looking to get “promotions” to higher-profile tours next season. Others are mainly aiming to keep similar tour cards for next year, given their current situation.

We’ll take a look at some of the local players on the bubble, but first we’ll mention one who is virtually guaranteed to earn a promotion. That would be Wyndham Clark, a Denver native and former Highlands Ranch resident, who, barring some wild happenings in the final two tournaments of the Web.com Tour season should secure a PGA Tour card for the 2018-19 wraparound season.

“It’s pretty awesome, a dream come true,” the current Las Vegas resident recently told the Portland Tribune. “I’ve always wanted to be on the PGA Tour. It is amazing it has only taken one year (playing as a pro) to do it. It’s surreal.” 

Clark (pictured), the 2010 CGA Amateur champion, hasn’t played his best golf in the last month, but his strong play in the first six months of the season has put him in 13th place on the 2018 regular-season Web money list with $187,817. The top 25 at the end of the regular season — on Aug. 19 — will earn PGA Tour cards.

Clark, the 2017 Pac-12 Conference individual champion, has posted four top-five finishes this Web.com season, with a best showing of second place at the United Leasing & Finance Championship in April. He’s a Web.com rookie in 2018.

Clark is no stranger to PGA Tour events, having competed in eight of them since June 2017, many via sponsor exemptions. His best PGA Tour finish was 17th place at the Sanderson Farms Championship in October 2017. All told, he’s made two cuts in those eight PGA Tour starts.

Speaking of the PGA Tour, the top 125 finishers in the FedExCup point standings after the PGA Championship (Thursday through Sunday) and the Wyndham Championship (Aug. 16-19) will keep their fully-exempt status for next season. And two “local” players who are not in the PGA Championship field are currently sitting in the 110-125 range.

Former Colorado State University golfer Martin Laird is 113th in the standings and former Fort Collins resident Sam Saunders is 120th. Should either fall out of the top 125 — and if they didn’t place highly enough in the Web.com Tour Finals — they would still have conditional status on the PGA Tour, but that would mean far fewer starts next season.

Back on the Web.com Tour, the top 75 threshold on the regular-season money list is an important one as those who make that grade guarantee themselves at least full Web exemptions in 2019, along with spots in the Web.com Finals, where another 25 PGA Tour cards will be up for grabs.

With two Web events left, former Denver resident Mark Hubbard is 63rd on the season-long money list, while Englewood resident Jim Knous is 69th.

On the Symetra Tour, the top 10 players on the money list after the final eight events of the 2018 season will land LPGA Tour cards for 2019.

Three golfers with strong local ties have outside shots at making the top 10.

Former University of Colorado golfer Jenny Coleman (left), who held an LPGA card in 2017, sits in 23rd place on the Symetra money list. Becca Huffer of Denver is 28th, and former CU golfer Esther Lee is 33rd.

Meanwhile, the top five finishers on the PGA Tour Canada money list will earn Web.com Tour cards for 2019. And with four tournaments left in the season, former Louisville resident George Cunningham sits in third place with $66,167.

Cunningham — grandson of the late Chuck Melvin, who played in six Colorado Cup matches — won the GolfBC Championship in June and finished 29th in the PGA Tour’s RBC Canadian Open last month.

For weekly updates on all tour players with strong Colorado ties, CLICK HERE.

The former University of Colorado golfer on Sunday recorded her fourth top-seven finish of 2018 on the Symetra Tour by placing seventh in the Danielle Downey Credit Union Classic in Rochester, N.Y.

Coleman (left in an LPGA.com photo) moved up to 21st on the 2018 Symetra Tour money list with $24,794. At the end of the season — after nine more events — the top 10 on that list will earn LPGA Tour cards.

Coleman shot rounds of 70-72-66-72, giving her an 8-under-par 280 total in Rochester. She finished four strokes out of a playoff won by Eun Jeong Seong. The former CU golfer made two birdies and two bogeys on Sunday. For the week, she carded an eagle and 14 birdies.

Coleman played on the LPGA Tour in 2017, making one cut in 10 tournaments.