On Friday, the USGA and the R&A announced that Kupcho has earned the Mark H. McCormack Medal as the top women’s player in the World Amateur Golf Rankings as of the conclusion of last week’s U.S. Women’s Amateur.
Kupcho, the 2018 Women’s NCAA Division I individual champion from Wake Forest, becomes the first American to win the women’s McCormack honor since it was first presented in 2011. The Coloradan is just the fourth women’s recipient overall, following Lydia Ko of New Zealand (2011 through ’13), Minjee Lee of Australia (2014) and Leona Maguire of Ireland (2015 through ’17).
“It’s a really big honor to get this medal,” said Kupcho (left), a 21-year-old who’s set to begin her senior season at Wake Forest. “Obviously it’s been a long stretch of hard work, and it” great to see it pay off and to have the pride of coming out on top.”
The McCormack Medal gives Kupcho spots in next year’s U.S. Women’s Open and Ricoh Women’s British Open, provided she remains an amateur. The 2019 U.S. Women’s Open is set for May 30-June 2 in Charleston, S.C. Kupcho finished 21st in that event last year.
Kupcho, who first ascended to the No. 1 spot in the women’s world amateur rankings on July 11, has helped lead U.S. teams to victories at both the Curtis Cup and Arnold Palmer Cup competitions, and she will represent America again in the Women’s World Amateur Team Championship Aug. 29-Sept. 1 in Dublin, Ireland.
In her three women’s NCAA Championship finals, Kupcho has finished sixth, second and first individually. She’s also won two consecutive NCAA regional titles. Kupcho will go into her final season having won seven individual college championships.
And last month, she posted her best finish in an LPGA Tour event, placing 16th in the LPGA Marathon Classic.
“Not only has Jennifer put together a remarkable individual season, highlighted by her NCAA Championship win, but she also represented the USA with respect, talent and passion during the Curtis Cup match,” said John Bodenhamer, USGA senior managing director of championships. “We look forward to watching her do the same as a member of our World Amateur Team.”
The McCormack Medal is named for World Golf Hall of Famer Mark McCormack, the founder of sports marketing firm IMG.
The Westminster resident, who earlier this week ascended to the top spot in the women’s World Amateur Golf Rankings for the first time, is showing she can compete quite effectively against some of the top professionals in the world as well.
The 21-year-old senior-to-be at Wake Forest shot a bogey-free 5-under-par 66 on Saturday to move into a share of fifth place going into Sunday’s final round of the LPGA Marathon Classic in Sylvania, Ohio.
The 66 vaulted Kupcho 21 spots up the scoreboard on Saturday and left her just three strokes out of the lead, currently held by Brooke Henderson.
Kupcho, who landed a spot in the field by virtue of winning the Women’s NCAA Division I individual title in May, stands at 8-under-par 205 through three days in the third LPGA Tour event of her career. The Coloradan missed the cut in the 2016 U.S. Women’s Open and finished 21st in the same event last year.
Kupcho is one of many players who have a legitiate shot at the title on Sunday. Besides the four players ahead of her, there are 10 golfers tied with her at 205, along with five at 206.
Kupcho made five birdies and no bogeys on Saturday. She’s carded just four bogeys in 54 holes.
The Coloradan is the low amateur in the Marathon Classic by eight strokes through three rounds.
(Kupcho is pictured on Saturday in a photo courtesy of the Kupcho family. Father Mike is in the background.)
For all the scores from the Marathon Classic, CLICK HERE.
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