When — Wednesday through Friday (Aug. 31-Sept. 2).

Where — Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in northeast Denver (4900 Himalaya Road).

Live Scoring — CLICK HERE.

Admission — Free.

Format — 54 holes of stroke play, with many professionals competing during the championship rounds in a simultaneous pro-am tournament. The field will be cut to the low 40 percent of individuals and teams after 36 holes.

Purse — $60,000 for the championship competition, with up to an additional $15,000 for the pro-am. $11,000 goes to the winner, or the low professional.

Field — 97 professionals and amateurs competing for the championship, plus 29 amateurs who are competing only in the pro-am portion of the event.

Former Champions in Field — Erin Houtsma (2005), Joy Trotter (2012).

Other Notables Entered — 2006 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion Kimberly Kim, a former University of Denver golfer who just advanced to the second stage of LPGA Tour qualiflying; Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Janet Moore; 2015 CWGA Match Play champion and social media sensation Paige Spiranac.

Wednesday Tee Times — CLICK HERE.  

For More Information — Visit the CoBank Colorado Women’s Open website (CLICK HERE).

Kim (pictured) and former University of Colorado golfer Alexis Keating both landed spots into Stage II by finishing in the top 90 and ties out of 347 players in the Stage I tournament in Rancho Mirage, Calif.

Kim, the 2006 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion who played on the LPGA Tour in 2011, finished 39th Sunday, while Keating placed 46th. Kim posted a 2-over-par 290 total, while Keating had one birdie and 17 pars in a 1-under 71 Sunday that left her at 291.

Among the other players with strong Colorado ties who will compete into Stage II — set for Oct. 20-23 in Venice, Fla. — are Becca Huffer of Denver, former DU golfers Tonje Daffinrud, Katie Kempter and Eleanor Givens, former CU golfers Jenny and Kristin Coleman and Emily Childs, and former University of Northern Colorado player Carleigh Silvers. Those eight were included in the golfers exempt from Stage I.

The scores and positions of players with strong Colorado connections who competed in Rancho Mirage:

Advance to Stage II
39. Former DU golfer Kimberly Kim 68-74-70-78–290
46. Former CU golfer Alexis Keating 70-74-76-71–291

Failed to Advance in Q-School
130. Former CSU golfer Betsy Kelly 75-74-72-80–301
214. Samantha Stancato of Colorado Springs 73-77-78–228
214. 2015 CWGA Match Play champion Paige Spiranac 73-77-78–228
214. Lindsay McGetrick of Highlands Ranch 76-76-76–228
277. Former DU golfer Isabel Southard 79-78-77–234
317. Former CU golfer Jamie Oleksiew 79-77-83–239

For all the scores, CLICK HERE.

Former University of Denver golfer Kimberly Kim (pictured) continued to set the pace for the eight players with strong Colorado connections as she sits in 15th place through Saturday’s third round in Rancho Mirage, Calif.

The 2006 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion shot a 2-under-par 70 at the Arnold Palmer Course despite a double bogey on her 16th hole. Kim, who competed on the LPGA Tour in 2011, carded five birdies on the day. She’s four strokes out of the lead going into the final day.

Also surviving the 54-hole cut to the top 130 and ties — out of the starting field of 347 — were former University of Colorado golfer Alexis Keating and former Colorado State player Betsy Kelly. Keating finds herself in 97th place at 220 after a 76 Saturday, while Kelly is in 109th place at 221 following a third-round 72.

Meanwhile, seeing their bids end for 2017 LPGA Tour cards were five local players who missed the cut on Saturday: Samantha Stancato of Colorado Springs (228), former Coloradan Paige Spiranac (228), Lindsay McGetrick of Highlands Ranch (228), former DU golfer Isabel Southard (234) and former CU player Jamie Oleksiew (239).

The scores and positions of players with strong Colorado connections competing in Rancho Mirage:

15. Former DU golfer Kimberly Kim 68-74-70–212
97. Former CU golfer Alexis Keating 70-74-76–220
109. Former CSU golfer Betsy Kelly 75-74-72–221

Missed 54-Hole Cut
214. Samantha Stancato of Colorado Springs 73-77-78–228
214. 2015 CWGA Match Play champion Paige Spiranac 73-77-78–228
214. Lindsay McGetrick of Highlands Ranch 76-76-76–228
274. Former DU golfer Isabel Southard 79-78-77–234
311. Former CU golfer Jamie Oleksiew 79-77-83–239

For all the scores, CLICK HERE.

Kim (pictured), the 2006 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion who played on the LPGA Tour in 2011, shot a 2-over-par 74 on Friday and stands at 2-under 142, good for a share of 20th place out of 347 players. Kim made two birdies on Friday.

Keating, meanwhile, likewise carded a 74 — in her case with three birdies — to check in at even-par 144, leaving her in 46th place.

The top 90 finishers and ties after Sunday’s fourth round will advance to Stage II of the three-stage LPGA Tour qualifying process.

The field will be cut to the low 130 and ties after three rounds.

After 36 holes, Sarah Schmelzel leads the tournament by three strokes after back-to-back rounds of 67.

The scores and positions of players with strong Colorado connections competing in Rancho Mirage:

20. Former DU golfer Kimberly Kim 68-74–142
46. Former CU golfer Alexis Keating 70-74–144
146. Former CSU golfer Betsy Kelly 75-74–149
170. Samantha Stancato of Colorado Springs 73-77–150
170. 2015 CWGA Match Play champion Paige Spiranac 73-77–150
212. Lindsay McGetrick of Highlands Ranch 76-76–152
261. Former CU golfer Jamie Oleksiew 79-77–156
280. Former DU golfer Isabel Southard 79-78–157

For all the scores, CLICK HERE.

Kim (pictured), the 2006 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion who played on the LPGA Tour in 2011, made six birdies and two bogeys on Thursday. She trails co-leaders August Kim and Kristina Merkle by two with three rounds remaining.

Also breaking par on Thursday was former University of Colorado golfer Alexis Keating, who made three birdies in a round of 70 that leaves her tied for 20th place.

The top 90 finishers and ties after Sunday’s fourth round will advance to Stage II of the three-stage LPGA Tour qualifying process.

The scores and positions of players with strong Colorado connections competing in Rancho Mirage:

10. Former DU golfer Kimberly Kim 68
20. Former CU golfer Alexis Keating 70
88. Samantha Stancato of Colorado Springs 73
88. 2015 CWGA Match Play champion Paige Spiranac 73
161. Former CSU golfer Betsy Kelly 75
193. Lindsay McGetrick of Highlands Ranch 76
279. Former CU golfer Jamie Oleksiew 79
279. Former DU golfer Isabel Southard 79

For all the scores, CLICK HERE.

Stage I of LPGA Tour qualifying will take place this week — Thursday through Sunday in Rancho Mirage, Calif. — with at least eight players with strong Colorado ties among those who will compete.

Then next week, the Web.com Tour qualifying process begins with the Pre-Qualifying Stage tournaments.

And in mid-November, Regional Qualifying for the PGA Tour Champions gets things rolling for the 50-and-over set.

As for this week’s LPGA Tour Stage I in California, 347 players will vie for the 90 spots and ties into Stage II that will be at stake. The ultimate goal is to advance to Stage III of qualifying — Nov. 30-Dec. 4 in Daytona Beach, Fla. — where 2017 LPGA Tour cards will be handed out to the top finishers.

Among the players with local connections who are entered in Stage I this week are:

— 2015 CWGA Match Play champion Paige Spiranac (pictured), a former Colorado resident who boasts a huge social-media presence (763,000 followers on Instagram and 95,000 on Twitter).

— Former University of Denver golfer Kimberly Kim, the 2006 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion who played on the LPGA Tour in 2011.

— Lindsay McGetrick of Highlands Ranch, who has played part-time on the Symetra Tour in 2016.

— Samantha Stancato of Colorado Springs.

— Former University of Colorado golfers Alexis Keating and Jamie Oleksiew.

— Former Colorado State University golfer Betsy Kelly.

— Former DU golfer Isabel Southard.

Spiranac, Kim, McGetrick and Kelly are expected to be in the field for the CoBank Colorado Women’s Open, which will be played Aug. 31-Sept. 2 at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in northeast Denver.

The field in Rancho Mirage will be cut to the low 130 and ties after three rounds.

Among the local players who are exempt into Stage II — set for Oct. 20-23 in Venice, Fla. — are Becca Huffer of Denver, former DU golfers Tonje Daffinrud, Katie Kempter and Eleanor Givens, former CU golfers Jenny and Kristin Coleman and Emily Childs, and former University of Northern Colorado player Carleigh Silvers.

For LPGA Stage I qualifying scores, CLICK HERE.

As for the Web.com and PGA Tour Champions Q-school rundowns:

— Web.com Tour:

The Pre-Qualifying Stage will be Aug. 31-Sept. 2 and Sept. 7-9, at a total of six sites.

The First Qualifying Stage is set for Sept. 27-30, Oct. 4-7 and Oct. 11-14 at a total of 12 sites.

The Second Qualifying Stage is scheduled for Nov. 1-4 and Nov. 8-11 at a total of five sites.

The Final Qualifying Stage will be held Dec. 8-11 in Winter Garden, Fla.

The top 45 finishers and ties from the final stage will have some level of regular status on 2017 Web.com Tour (depending on how high they finish). Others who complete all 72 holes will have conditional status.

— PGA Tour Champions:

Regional Qualifying is set for Nov. 15-18 at three sites: San Jacinto, Calif.; Lake Buena Vista, Calif.; and Montgomery, Texas.

The Final Stage will Nov. 29-Dec. 2 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Brandt Jobe earned medalist honors in the final stage of PGA Tour Champions qualifying last fall.
 

The former Colorado State University golfer carded rounds of 69-73-68 for a 6-under-par 210 total at the Wigwam Resort. That was good for a fifth-place showing — and an $1,850 payday.

Harrell ended up 11 shots behind champion Ryan Dillon.

Meanwhile, in a Cactus Tour event in Goodyear, Ariz., former University of Denver golfer Kimberly Kim placed ninth. The former U.S. Women’s Amateur champion went 75-71-74 for a 4-over-par 220 total, leaving her a dozen shots behind champion Angel Yin. Kim earned $700.
 

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.