Jennifer Kupcho admits that getting a good night’s rest hasn’t been easy since her heartbreaking finish in the Women’s NCAA Finals on Monday. But qualifying for the U.S. Women’s Open on Wednesday may go a long way toward helping her sleep easy.

“I have to get over it at some point,” the Westminster resident said after completing a 36-hole Women’s Open qualifier at Riverdale Dunes in Brighton. “It’s definitely a little hard to sleep at night, just realizing I was so close. But I’m going to the Open so … Open or win the national championship? Both would have been nice, but the Open is still cool.”

Two days after falling just short of a national collegiate individual title, Kupcho rebounded in a major way on Wednesday by advancing to the U.S. Women’s Open — arguably the most prestigious tournament in women’s golf — for the second consecutive year.

Kupcho, who turned 20 this month, shot rounds of 66-72 for a 6-under-par 138 total at Riverdale Dunes to earn medalist honors for the second straight year in the Colorado-based Women’s Open qualifier.

It was an emphatic bounceback from what transpired Monday at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Ill. There, the Wake Forest sophomore led by two shots with two holes remaining in the stroke-play portion of the Women’s NCAA Finals, but a triple-bogey on her next-to-last hole cost her the lead and led to a runner-up finish.

After traveling back to Colorado and having a very quick turnaround, however, the three-time CWGA Player of the Year responded with a strong performance at the Dunes, finishing the day with an eagle, 10 birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey.

Joining Kupcho (left) in advancing to the U.S. Women’s Open — which will be contested July 13-16 at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J. — was Robyn Choi, a University of Colorado golfer from Australia. Choi, who just completed her freshman year at CU, placed second Wednesday out of a field that originally numbered 64. The 19-year old made nine birdies and four bogeys on the day, carding rounds of 67-72 for a 139 total. (Kupcho and Choi are pictured at top, with Kupcho at right.)

It doesn’t usually work this way, but the Women’s Open will mark the first USGA championship for Choi, who’s No. 159 in the women’s World Amateur Golf Rankings. In fact, Choi said she hadn’t competed at all in the U.S. before going to CU for the fall semester less than a year ago.

“I think it will be good experience to play with the pros and stuff like that. It will be a lifetime chance,” said Choi, who added that qualifying for the Women’s Open is probably her top accomplishment in golf to date.

Kupcho, currently ranked No. 13 in the world among female amateurs, is coming off a college season in which she won three times and was runner-up in another three tournaments. She’s finished sixth and second in her two NCAA Finals. And earlier this week, she was named a first-team All-American by the Women’s Golf Coaches Association.

The U.S. Women’s Open will mark Kupcho’s ninth USGA championship. Besides the two Women’s Opens, there have been two U.S. Women’s Amateurs, two U.S. Girls’ Juniors, one U.S. Women’s State Team, one U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links and one U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball.

“It’s really exciting to go play in the Open again,” said Kupcho (left). “It’s also a really good bounce-back from a couple of days ago at nationals.

“You definitely get treated really well (at the Women’s Open) so it’s super cool to be there and to be around all those people. Going a second time, I kind of know what it’s all about now. I won’t be awestruck when I get there. So hopefully I’ll be able to settle down and make the cut” after missing by seven strokes a year ago.

On Wednesday, with dad Mike caddying for her, the Coloradan was 9 under par through 32 holes. She had been 1 over through her first six, then made a 10-foot eagle on the 16th hole (her seventh) and also birdied the 17th, first, third, fourth and seventh holes for a cool 66.

She added five more birdies and a couple of bogeys in the afternoon round — where a 6-foot-long snake made an appearance (pictured below) — before leaking a little oil down the stretch. She pushed her tee shot on No. 15 into the right rough, then pulled her approach into the water which guards the entire left side of the hole, leading to a double bogey. Then she missed a 3-foot putt on No. 16, resulting in a bogey.

“I kind fell apart at the end,” Kupcho said. “I think I was getting a little tired.”

That’s certainly understandable, given all the pressure-packed golf she’s played in the last several days.

While knowing the NCAA title slipped through her fingers has been tough to grapple with, Kupcho has received considerable support from friends, family, fans and admirers in the last couple of days, which has helped ease the sting.

“Just realizing I took second in nationals, it’s a really good accomplishment,” she noted. “I would be really happy with it if I hadn’t been leading. (People) telling me, ‘You did great, you still took second’ helps me.”

The first alternate position on Wednesday went to Kelli Bowers of Chelan, Wash. (140), an assistant coach at Grand Canyon University who competed in the 2013 U.S. Women’s Open. Lucy Li of Redwood Shores, Calif., a 14-year-old who made the cut in the first LPGA major of the year (the ANA Inspiration), gained the second alternate spot when she birdied the first hole of a playoff after posting a 141 total in regulation.

The Colorado-based tournament at Riverdale Dunes is one of 25 qualifying events that are being held for the 72nd U.S. Women’s Open.
 

U.S. Women’s Open Qualifying
At Par-72 Riverdale Dunes in Brighton
QUALIFY FOR U.S. WOMEN’S OPEN
Jennifer Kupcho, Westminster, Colo. 66-72–138
Robyn Choi, Australia 67-72–139

ALTERNATES (In Order)
Kelli Bowers, Chelan, Wash. 68-72″”140
Lucy Li, Redwood Shores, Calif. 70-71″”141

FAILED TO QUALIFY
Krista Puisite, Latvia 70-71–141
Marissa Dodd, Allen, Texas 72-70–142
Becca Huffer, Denver, Colo. 73-69–142
Yujeong Son, Norman, Okla. 71-71–142
Andrea Wong, San Francisco, Calif. 73-69–142
Ana Menendez, Mexico 70-73–143
Emily Penttila, Finland 68-75–143
Julieta Granada, Paraguay 74-71–145
Jessica Vasilic, Anaheim Hills, Calif. 75-71–146
Mariell Bruun, Denver, Colo. 75-72–147
Mallory Kent, Tukwila, Wash. 70-77–147
Sirene Blair, South Jordan, Utah 73-75–148
Paige Crawford, Colorado Springs, Colo. 76-73–149
Jessy Tang, Orlando, Fla. 76-73–149
Karlin Beck, Montgomery, Ala. 74-76–150
Kendra Dalton, Provo, Utah 77-73–150
Betsy Kelly, Denver, Colo. 75-75–150
Gillian Vance, Lakewood, Colo. 77-73–150
Hannah Wood, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 75-75–150
Janie Jackson, Huntsville, Ala. 76-75–151
Somin Lee, Centennial, Colo. 76-75–151
Carleigh Silvers, Martinsville, Ind. 74-77–151
Ashley Tait, Denver, Colo. 74-78–152
Marijosse Navarro, San Antonio, Texas 72-81–153
Mary Parsons, Canada 77-76–153
Kynadie Adams, Gallatin, Tenn. 82-72–154
Emily Gilbreth, Bellaire, Texas 74-80–154
Jaylee Tait, Littleton, Colo. 75-79–154
Lana Hodge, Monroe, La. 76-79–155
Erin Houtsma, Denver, Colo. 75-80–155
Kaitlin Milligan, Norman, Okla. 79-76–155
Morgan Sahm, Centennial, Colo. 76-79–155
Shania Berger, Albuquerque, N.M. 75-82–157
Jessica Dreesbeimdieke, Namibia 75-82–157
Stefanie Ferguson, Aurora, Colo. 74-83–157
Sarah Hankins, Thornton, Colo. 77-80–157
Laura Gerner, Kaysville, Utah 80-79–159
Alexandrea Schulte, Sandy, Utah 80-79–159
Samantha Stancato, Colorado Springs, Colo. 76-84–160
Haley Dunn, Salt Lake City, Utah 80-81–161
Erin Sargent, Longmont, Colo. 78-83–161
Mary Weinstein, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 81-80–161
Anna Depalma, San Clemente, Calif. 82-80–162
Kylee Sullivan, Colorado Springs, Colo. 83-79–162
Anna Kennedy, Parker, Colo. 80-83–163
Caroline Klemp, Lansing, Kan. 78-85–163
Emily Smith, Buena Vista, Colo. 88-78–166
Jacquelin Biggs, Englewood, Colo. 85-82–167
Sydney Cavin, Baton Rouge, La. 82-85–167
Delaney Elliott, Superior, Colo. 85-84–169
Jessica Scott, Farmington, N.M. 85-84–169
Arielle Keating, Colorado Springs, Colo. 85-85–170
Kimberly Harrington, San Diego, Calif. 87-85–172
Angela King, Westminster, Colo. 87-85–172
Hannah More, Littleton, Colo. 91-83–174
Delaney Benson, Littleton, Colo. 80-99–179
Sharon Honeyman, Hays, Kan. 93-86–179
Courtney Ewing, Pueblo, Colo. 90-97–187
Anna Hack, Paducah, Ky. 76-NC–NC
Kayla Sam, Anaheim Hills, Calif. WD
 

Sixty-four players are scheduled to compete in the 36-hole qualifier, with the top two finishers earning spots to the national Women’s Open, set for July 13-16 at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J.

Among those 64 are Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster and Hannah Wood of Highlands Ranch, two college golfers who earned spots in arguably the biggest tournament in women’s golf a year ago. Both players fell short of making the 36-hole cut in the U.S. Women’s Open, Wood by three shots and Kupcho by seven.

Kupcho, a three-time CWGA Player of the Year, has won three individual titles this college season while at Wake Forest and is currently No. 13 in the women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking. Wood, the 2014 CWGA Stroke Play champion who plays her college golf at the University of Oklahoma, is No. 129 in the women’s WAGR.

Also scheduled to play in Wednesday’s qualifier are Lucy Li of Redwood Shores, Calif., the 14-year-old who made the cut in the 2017 ANA Inspiration, the first major of the LPGA Tour season; 2013 CoBank Colorado Women’s Open champion Becca Huffer of Denver, who played in the 2012 U.S. Women’s Open; up-and-coming University of Colorado freshman Robyn Choi (No. 155 in the world among women amateurs); Utah’s Sirene Blair (No. 132); three-time state high school champion and CWGA Stroke Play winner Ashley Tait; former University of Northern Colorado golfer Carleigh Silvers, who qualified for the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open.

More than half of Wednesday’s field are amateurs.

All told, 25 qualifying tournaments will be held for the 72nd U.S. Women’s Open.

Birdie Kim won the 2005 U.S. Women’s Open at Cherry Hills Country Club after competing in a qualifying tournament that year.

Riverdale Dunes hosted the 1993 U.S. Amateur Public Links and two Web.com Tour events during the ’90s.

For U.S. Women’s Open pairings from Riverdale Dunes, CLICK HERE.

Maria Fassi lives just north of Mexico City, but when it comes to qualifying for USGA championships, she feels right at home in the Denver area.

Each of the past two years, the talented golfer from south of the border has made trips to Colorado successful ones as she’s qualified for U.S. national amateur championships — the U.S. Girls’ Junior in 2013 at CommonGround and the inaugural U.S. Women’s Four-Ball last fall at Heritage at Westmoor.

And Wednesday proved a charm as the 17-year-old earned a spot into arguably the most prestigious women’s golf tournament there is, the U.S. Women’s Open.

The high school junior (above) shot rounds of 70-69 for a 5-under-par 144 total at Riverdale Dunes in Brighton to secure one of the two qualifying berths available for the Women’s Open, which will be contested July 9-12 in Lancaster, Pa.

Joining her in advancing was another highly-regarded amateur from outside the U.S. Bertine Strauss of South Africa, who just completed her college career and graduated from the University of Texas, earned medalist honors Wednesday at 138 following rounds of 70-68.

Asked to explain her USGA qualifying success in Colorado, Fassi said, “The conditions are really like what I’m used to playing. It’s the same altitude (actually Mexico City is a couple thousand feet higher) so that helps a lot. I have good memories here, so to remember that you did good here helps.”

As for Strauss, while she had never been to Colorado before this week, she’s likewise quite accustomed to playing golf at a mile-high-plus altitude as she’s from an area in South Africa that’s slightly higher than Denver. So she too felt right at home, particularly in landing a spot in the U.S. Women’s Open for the first time.

“I might just want to keep on coming back,” the 23-year-old said with a smile. “It’s got good memories so far. No reason not to want to keep coming back.”

A player with close ties to Colorado came up just short of advancing. University of Denver golfer Elyse Smidinger, who in the last year has qualified in Colorado for the U.S. Women’s Amateur and the U.S. Women’s Publinks, couldn’t quite make the grade on Wednesday. With a nice up-and-down for birdie on the last of her 36 holes Wednesday, Smidinger posted a 140 total (68-72), which left her as the first alternate from the Riverdale Dunes site.

In all, five players finished with sub-par totals on Wednesday. No Coloradans qualified in the Centennial State for the third consecutive year, but two in-state golfers who have previously played in the U.S. Women’s Open were in the hunt. Becca Huffer of Denver (2012 qualifier) finished sixth at even-par 144, while Carleigh Silvers of Greeley (2014 qualifier) was eighth at 145.

As it was, the two 2015 qualifiers have some pretty strong credentials. Strauss (left), a three-time South African Junior Champion, is the reigning Big 12 Conference women’s golfer of the year and last month won the Ping Arizona State University Invitational. She currently stands 56th in the women’s World Amateur Golf Rankings.

Strauss has never before competed in a USGA championship, but thanks to an eight-birdie, two-bogey day on Wednesday, national tournament No. 1 is a big one.

“It’s a great honor to go to the U.S. Women’s Open,” she said. “You always watch it on TV and it’s one of the biggest stages for women’s golf. I’ll love to go. It will be a good eye-opener for me, wanting to play professionally, to see how everything works. I’ll be very excited.”

Fassi early this year won the Mexican Women’s Amateur and is currently ranked 223rd in the world among women’s amateurs.

Although at 17, Fassi already has competed in four USGA championships — two U.S. Girls’ Juniors, a U.S. Women’s Amateur and the U.S. Women’s Four-Ball — and is exempt into the 2015 Girls’ Junior and the Women’s Am, getting into the U.S. Women’s Open falls into a different category.

“It means the world,” said Fassi, who has committed to play college golf at the University of Arkansas. “I want to turn professional when I’m older. To be able to play a professional tournament at this stage, this will be a really good chance for me. There’s no words to explain that.”

Fassi racked up 11 birdies to go along with six bogeys in her two rounds on Wednesday.

For scores from Wednesday’s qualifier, CLICK HERE.