In her second straight year of competing at the U.S. Women’s Open, Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster proved to be a quick learner on the biggest stage in women’s golf.

Not only did the 20-year-old reach her goal of making the cut at the most prestigious women’s tournament, but she finished the No. 2 amateur in the field at Trump National in Bedminster, N.J. Only 17-year-old Hye-Jin Choi of South Korea, the No. 2-ranked amateur in women’s golf, was better — albeit a lot better: nine strokes, to be exact. It was the second straight year for Choi to be low am at the U.S. Women’s Open. She was the overall runner-up on Sunday, setting an amateur scoring record for the championship (9-under-par 279), ending up two shots behind champion and countrywoman Sung Hyun Park.

Kupcho, 20, finished 21st overall after a 1-under-par 71 on Sunday left her at even-par 288 for the week. The Wake Forest golfer (pictured), the runner-up in the Women’s NCAA Championship in May, proved more than able to keep up with the best players in women’s golf in making birdies as she racked up 17 for the week.

The three-time CWGA Player of the Year, who’s accustomed to lapping the field in Colorado tournaments, kept pace with many of the best players in the game in New Jersey. On Sunday, she finished with three birdies and two bogeys, and parred her last seven holes. Had it not been for the quadruple-bogey 9 she sustained Friday in very rainy conditions on her 35th hole, Kupcho would have placed 11th on Sunday.

As it was, Kupcho finished better than the likes of Lexi Thompson, Stacy Lewis, Lydia Ko, Karrie Webb, Brittany Lang and Suzann Pettersen.

Kupcho, the No. 10-ranked amateur in women’s golf, posted the best U.S. Women’s Open finish by a golfer who grew up in Colorado since Cherry Creek High School graduate Jill McGill ended up 12th in 2002. Of course, McGill was a veteran LPGA Tour professional at that that time, while Kupcho still has two years of college eligibility left at Wake Forest.

Here are the round-by-round scores for each of the players with strong in-state connections who have competed this week:

21. Jennifer Kupcho, Westminster 74-72-71-71–288
Missed 36-Hole Cut
CU golfer Robyn Choi 76-77–153
Former CU golfer Emily Childs 77-80–157

For all the scores from the U.S. Women’s Open, CLICK HERE.
 

But, barring a final-round collapse by Choi, Kupcho is certainly in position to finish No. 2 in the amateur ranks in the top women’s golf tournament in the world.

Kupcho shares the No. 2 spot among ams at 1-over-par 217 after she shot a 1-under 71 on Saturday. Choi owns a 208 total, while Lauren Stephenson is tied with Kupcho at 217, and Rachel Heck is at 218. (Kupcho is pictured; photo courtesy of Janet Kupcho.)

Kupcho, the Women’s NCAA runner-up and a three-time CWGA Player of the Year, stands in 27th place overall. She’s improved her scores each round, having gone 74-72-71. On Saturday, she made five birdies and four bogeys, finishing with a bird on No. 18 after dropping three shots from 13-17.

The Wake Forest junior-to-be has made a remarkable 14 birdies over the first 54 holes. She ranks No. 7 in putting this week with a 27.33 average per round.

Kupcho will be paired with Moriya Jutanugarn and will tee off at 10:02 a.m. (MT) on Sunday. The Fox Network will televise the final round beginning at noon (MT).

Here are the round-by-round scores for each of the players with strong in-state connections who have competed this week:

27. Jennifer Kupcho, Westminster 74-72-71–217
Missed 36-Hole Cut
CU golfer Robyn Choi 76-77–153
Former CU golfer Emily Childs 77-80–157

For all the scores from the U.S. Women’s Open, CLICK HERE.
 

Kupcho, the Women’s NCAA runner-up who is competing in the U.S. Women’s Open for the second straight year, stands at 1 under par through 14 holes and in a share of 29th place after the first day.

A strorm delayed play for about two hours Thursday afternoon and it was halted at 8:33 p.m. Kupcho (pictured) was among the groups that will return at 6:45 a.m. (ET) to complete their first round. Also in that same boat are former University of Colorado golfer Emily Childs and current CU player Robyn Choi.

Childs, who transferred to Cal after playing at CU as a freshman, is at 1 over par through 13 holes, good for a tie for 65th place. And Choi, who joined Kupcho in qualifying in Colorado for the Women’s Open, is 5 over through 15 and shares 124th place.

A 36-hole cut looms, with the top 60 players and ties after two rounds advancing to the weekend.

Kupcho, a three-time CWGA Player of the Year, missed the cut last year in her Women’s Open debut. But on Thursday, the Wake Forest junior had three birdies and two bogeys in her first 14 holes. After being 1 over through 10, she birdied Nos. 11 and 14 before play was stopped.

Shanshan Feng of China shot a bogey-free 6-under-par 66 to hold the lead after the first day.

For all the scores from the U.S. Women’s Open, CLICK HERE.