University of Colorado golfer Robyn Choi has never competed in a USGA championship other than the one that’s considered by many to be the most prestigious tournament in women’s golf.

And now, to add to that oddity, Choi on Monday qualified for her second consecutive U.S. Women’s Open.

“It’s the biggest tournament,” Choi said. “I feel like I’ve had a big jump. I feel like I’m missing the (USGA) in-betweeners. I think it’s weird.”

Weird in a good way, that is.

The CU sophomore shot rounds of 66-70 to earn qualifying medalist honors at The Ranch Country Club in Westminster with a 6-under-par 136 total.

Landing the only other available berth out of a field of 48 players on Monday was Jillian Hollis, a University of Georgia junior from the Cleveland area, who posted scores of 69-71 for a 140 total. (The qualifiers are pictured, with Choi at left.)

The result is that in two weeks, Choi and Hollis will be headed to one of the majors in women’s golf, this year set for Shoal Creek near Birmingham, Ala., May 31-June 3.

Choi, a 20-year-old from Australia, shot a bogey-free round in the morning, then after struggling somewhat on the front nine of the afternoon round, she played her final eight holes in 3 under par. For the day, she finished with 10 birdies and four bogeys.

“It’s a tournament I really wanted to go back to because I gained a lot of experience from it (last year),” Choi said of the Women’s Open. “I’m excited to play again so I can progress on and hopefully become a better player.

“Last year it wasn’t like ‘I have to get there’ (in the 36-hole qualifying tournament) because I didn’t have any expectations of myself. But because I made it last year it was something I really wanted to do again. It was definitely one of my main goals this year.”

Choi (left) missed the cut at last year’s U.S. Women’s Open by seven strokes, and has set a goal to play on the weekend this year at the national championship. And she thinks she’s up for that jump. After often hitting her drives 20 or 30 yards short of other competitors at the 2017 U.S. Women’s Open, Choi has increased her swing speed and has picked up 20 yards or so on her drives.

That’s helped her move up to No. 88 in the Women’s World Amateur Golf Rankings.

Hollis, winner of four individual college titles in her three seasons at the University of Georgia, plans to forego her final year of NCAA eligibility and turn pro just prior to the Women’s Open. And she’ll do it coming off a strong spring in which she won twice in the college ranks — including on her 21st birthday — and qualified for her first U.S. Women’s Open.

On Monday, Hollis finished with seven birdies and five birdies. And she would have challenged for medalist honors had she not finished her 36-hole day by going bogey-bogey-bogey.

“Qualifying is definitely very sweet,” said Hollis, who will have full status on the Symetra Tour once she turns pro. “It means a ton. I love golf and the competition; that’s why I play. I love it so much. This is so neat to fight and grind for something — especially over 36 holes like this — and to make it through.”

Hollis punctuated her good play on Monday with a 90-yard chip-in for birdie on her sixth hole of the afternoon round.

Before going to the U.S. Women’s Open, both Choi and Hollis will head to Stillwater, Okla., this week to compete in the Women’s NCAA Championship Finals, which start on Friday.

Colorado State University golfer Katrina Prendergast, who recently paired with teammate Ellen Secor to win the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship, landed the first alternate spot from The Ranch qualifier on Monday after rounds of 72-71 left her at 143.

Jennifer Kupcho (left) of Westminster, who qualified for the last two U.S. Women’s Opens and finished 21st at last year’s national championship, struggled on Monday — her 21st birthday — and failed to make it three in a row. Playing at a course at which she works during the summer and often practices, the U.S. Curtis Cup team member managed just two birdies in 36 holes while recording seven bogeys and one double bogey.

The recent winner of her second consecutive NCAA Regional tournament, Kupcho shot rounds of 74-75.

“To sum it up, I didn’t hit the ball well,” said Kupcho, the 2017 Women’s NCAA runner-up. “I can’t say I’ve ever seen myself hit the ball this bad. It was just all over the place. I couldn’t really do anything. It was a tough day, scrambling all around.

“It surprised me a little bit because I was hitting it so well at (NCAA) Regionals and I’ve been hitting it so well the three days I’ve been back (in Colorado). Then I get out here and can’t even hit the broad side of a barn.”

Asked what she was going to do for the remainder of her 21st birthday, Kupcho said she wasn’t certain. “But I’ll definitely have a drink, don’t worry,” she said with a smile.

Then it’s off to Stillwater for the Women’s NCAA Finals. And she doesn’t think there will be any hangover — no pun intended — from her day on the course Monday.

“I think I should be good,” she said. “Just forget about it. It was one bad day. You always have a bad day. Since I was playing well and hitting it well leading up to it, I’m not worried.”

U.S. Women’s Open qualifying tournaments have been held in Colorado each year since 2011. In 2018, 25 qualifying events are being contested worldwide, including 21 in the U.S.
 

U.S. Women’s Open Qualifying
At Par-71 The Ranch CC in Westminster
QUALIFIED FOR U.S. WOMEN’S OPEN
Robyn Choi, Australia 66-70–136
Jillian Hollis, Rocky River, Ohio 69-71–140

ALTERNATES (In Order)
Katrina Prendergast, Sparks, Nev. 72-71–143
Jessica Vasilic, Anaheim Hills, Calif. 71-73–144

For complete scores, CLICK HERE.
 

The Westminster resident already has a leg up on the field in many respects, given that she’s No. 3 in the Women’s World Amateur Golf Rankings, has qualified for the last two Women’s Opens, and finished 21st overall (second among amateurs) in the championship last summer. It was the best U.S. Women’s Open showing by a golfer who grew up in Colorado since Cherry Creek High School graduate Jill McGill ended up 12th in 2002. 

But in addition to all that, there’s this: Kupcho is by no means a stranger to The Ranch Country Club, which will host the 36-hole qualifying tournament on Monday. Indeed, the Wake Forest junior and U.S. Curtis Cup team member has been an employee at The Ranch during the summer for the past two years and plans to be again in 2018. And because she has playing privileges there, she practices and plays there frequently during the summer.

And if you need one more reason to think earning a return trip to the U.S. Women’s Open might be in the cards, the qualifying is being held on Kupcho’s 21st birthday.

Kupcho, fresh off her second straight individual victory in a Women’s NCAA Regional, will head the field of 50 players, who will be chasing two spots in the U.S. Women’s Open, set for Shoal Creek near Birmingham, Ala., May 31-June 3. Should she qualify, Kupcho won’t be headed to Shoal Creek blind as she played there in December for a Curtis Cup practice session.

Also scheduled to compete on Monday is the other 2017 U.S. Women’s Open qualifier in Colorado. That would be Australian Robyn Choi, a University of Colorado sophomore, who missed the cut in last year’s national championship.

Kupcho and Choi are ranked No. 6 and No. 30, respecitvely, among the nation’s women’s college golfers by Golfweek.

Also teeing it up at The Ranch are CU senior Brittany Fan, who just finished sixth individually at an NCAA Regional; former University of Denver golfer Mariell Bruun, and who has conditional status on the Ladies European Tour; and Colorado State University teammates Katrina Prendergast and Ellen Secor, who recently won the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship.

U.S. Women’s Open qualifying tournaments have been held in Colorado each year since 2011. In 2018, 25 qualifying events will be contested worldwide, including 21 in the U.S.

For Monday’s tee times, CLICK HERE.
 

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.

Amateur Hannah Wood of Highlands Ranch, the 2014 CWGA Stroke Play champion, earned one of two spots into the Women’s Open that were at stake at a 36-hole qualifier at Shady Oaks Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas.

Wood, who just completed her sophomore season at the University of Oklahoma, shot rounds of 74-69 for a 1-over-par 143 total, which left her a stroke behind medalist Su-Hyun Oh. Wood then won a three-person playoff with fellow amateurs Kristen Gillman of Austin, Texas, and Chih-Min Chen of Stillwater, Okla.

Wood, who’s No. 113 in the Women’s World Amateur Golf Rankings, made six birdies on Monday, including five in the second round. She played her final 11 holes of regulation in 4 under par.

“Today I qualified for the Women’s U.S. Open. It has always been a life goal of mine to qualify for this tournament, and today was something very special,” Wood wrote on Twitter.

The U.S. Women’s Open will be played July 7-10 at CordeValle in San Martin, Calif. It will be the first Women’s Open for Wood.

Also on Monday, Kupcho qualified for the Women’s Open by earning medalist honors in a qualifying tournament in Westminster. To read about that, CLICK HERE.

In all, 69 golfers (60 of whom are amateurs) will compete at the site for two spots in the Women’s Open, arguably the most prestigious tournament in women’s golf, which this year will be contested July 7-10 at CordeValle in San Martin, Calif.

Among the top entrants is two-time CWGA Player of the Year Jennifer Kupcho (above) of Westminster, who is ranked No. 43 in the world among women’s amateur golfers. Kupcho, a freshman at Wake Forest, just qualified as an individual for the NCAA Championship Finals. In her last three college tournaments, she’s been runner-up twice (including in the ACC Championships) and sixth in an NCAA Regional at Stanford. Overall, she’s posted six top-10 finishes in 10 tournaments so far as a freshman.

Kupcho and other in-state residents are attempting to become the first Coloradans to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Open in their home state since 2012.

Also scheduled to compete at Heritage at Westmoor is Maria Fassi of Mexico, who qualified last year in Colorado for the 2015 U.S. Women’s Open. Fassi, now 18, has also qualified in the Centennial State for the 2013 U.S. Girls’ Junior and the 2015 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball. She’s 55th in the Women’s World Amateur rankings.

Others in the top 100 in those rankings who are entered Monday are University of Colorado golfer Esther Lee (34th) and Mariah Stackhouse (95th), who helped Stanford clinch the NCAA women’s team title last year.

Heritage at Westmoor is one of 25 qualifying sites for the U.S. Women’s Open, including 21 in the U.S. All told, the USGA accepted 1,855 entries for the 2016 Women’s Open.

For Monday’s pairings at Heritage at Westmoor, 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.
 

Golf fans have almost become numb to very young women — and even girls — finding big-time success in the game.

Lydia Ko has already won three times on the LPGA Tour — and she’s only 17 years old. Lexi Thompson collected an LPGA Tour victory at age 16. Kimberly Kim won the 2006 U.S. Women’s Amateur before she turned 15 en route to eventually playing college golf for a year at the University of Denver.

So nobody should be in the least taken aback that a couple of 20-year-olds claimed the two available U.S. Women’s Open berths available through Wednesday’s Sectional Qualifying tournament at Heritage at Westmoor in Westminster.

Celine Boutier of France, a sophomore at Duke who recently won the Atlantic Coast Conference title, earned medalist honors by shooting 72-70 for a 2-under-par 142 total. And Janie Jackson, a sophomore at Alabama who recently placed fifth in the Southeastern Conference tournament, claimed the other Women’s Open spot after recording an even-par 144 total after rounds of 71-73. (The qualifiers are pictured above, with Boutier at left.)

This year’s Women’s Open will be played at Pinehurst Resort’s No. 2 course in North Carolina June 19-22, the week after the U.S. Open is contested at the same site.

Jennifer Coleman, who just wrapped up her University of Colorado golf career, had to settle for the first-alternate spot on Wednesday as she ended up a stroke behind Jackson after going 73-72. A double bogey on the 147-yard 14th hole — her fifth of the afternoon round — proved costly for Coleman, who finished third out of a field of 48 starters.

Both Boutier and Jackson played in the Sectional Qualifier in Colorado because it worked out well, schedule-wise, between last weekend’s NCAA Regionals and next week’s NCAA Championship Finals. Duke is ranked third in the nation by both Golfstat and Golfweek, while Alabama is 10th and 12th, respectively. Both players flew in from southeastern U.S. to participate on Wednesday.

Boutier is one of the top women’s college golfers in the country, ranked sixth by Golfstat and seventh by Golfweek. The 2012 European Ladies Amateur champion won three individual college titles this season. And in last year’s NCAA Championship Finals, she finished an impressive fourth.

Boutier, who is from a suburb of Paris, not only competed in the Women’s British Open last year, but she made the cut, finishing tied with Michelle Wie for 56th place. The U.S. Women’s Open will be her second women’s major championship.

“It’s really awesome,” she said. “It’s one of my biggest dreams. I’ve never tried to qualify before. I played the British Open last year, but I want to try something on a different type of course. Playing in a major is just going to be awesome.”

On Wednesday, Boutier birdied three of her last four holes to secure medalist honors. She made six birdies over her two rounds. While not many players got in practice rounds at Heritage at Westmoor due to the early-week bad weather, Boutier played the course starting at 4 p.m. on Tuesday.

“It helped because the greens are pretty tricky,” she said. “There was a dot on them for the pin positions and it definitely helped me with my strategy.”

Meanwhile, Jackson (left) competed the course blind Wednesday after arriving from Alabama on Tuesday night.

“That was kind of hard, but I had a course book,” said Jackson, a three-time Alabama state high school champion who transferred home after one season at the University of Arizona. “I’ve played in Colorado before so I knew that the ball would fly differently and go farther here. And there’s not too much trouble out here (at Westmoor); it’s wide open, which was nice.”

Jackson finished the day with five birdies, and needed them all given that she had no margin to spare. Like Boutier, she’ll be playing in the U.S. Women’s Open for the first time, though she’s competed in two LPGA Tour events.

“It’s going to be a good experience,” she said. “It’s a good feeling to know even though I came in here blind I’m just happy I played well. And it’s good timing before nationals, a confidence booster.”

Westmoor is one of 24 Sectional Qualifying sites for the U.S. Women’s Open.

U.S. Women’s Open Sectional Qualifying
At Par-72 Heritage at Westmoor in Westminster

QUALIFIED FOR WOMEN’S OPEN
Celine Boutier, France 72-70–142
Janie Jackson, Huntsville, Ala. 71-73–144

ALTERNATES (In Order)
Jennifer Coleman, Rolling Hills Estate, Calif. 73-72–145
Gabriela Lopez, Mexico 72-74–146

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

But that’s exactly what’s happening next week, weather-permitting. And if early-week conditions do cause rescheduling, things could be even more condensed.

As things stand, 18-hole U.S. Open Local Qualifying will be held at two sites on Monday (the Broadmoor Golf Club’s West Course in Colorado Springs and Heritage at Westmoor in Westminster) and one on Tuesday (Collindale Golf Course in Fort Collins). Then on Wednesday, it’s back to Heritage at Westmoor for 36-hole U.S. Women’s Open Sectional Qualifying.

For the record, Heritage at Westmoor is one of just three courses nationwide that will host both U.S. Women’s Open Sectionals and U.S. Open Locals this year.

The stakes are high for the players competing. The top two performers over two rounds on Wednesday will earn spots in arguably the top tournament in women’s golf, the U.S. Women’s Open, which this year will be contested at Pinehurst Resort’s No. 2 course in North Carolina June 19-22.

The U.S. Open will be held at the same site the previous week — June 12-15 — but the route there is more involved for most entrants. The 18-hole Local tournaments are the first of two stages of the qualifying process. Those who overcome the Local hurdle will play in one of a dozen 36-hole Sectionals, with the 10 qualifiers in the U.S. scheduled for June 2.

All told, a record 10,127 golfers sent in entries for the U.S. Open, while 1,702 players — also the most ever — signed up for the U.S. Women’s Open.

Given the stakes involved, next week’s qualifying events draw some of the best fields of the year for Colorado-based tournaments.

Here’s a brief rundown on each of the four qualifiers in Colorado:

— U.S. Open Local Qualifying Monday at the Broadmoor’s West Course: As of Friday, the field at the Broadmoor numbered 84, with the top five finishers advancing to Sectionals.

Two-time HealthOne Colorado Open champion Derek Tolan (pictured) of Highlands Ranch and Tom Glissmeyer of Colorado Springs are two of the more notable entrants, having each qualified for the U.S. Open as 16-year-olds (Tolan in 2002 and Glissmeyer in 2003). Both made it to Sectionals from qualifying at the West Course last year, but came up short of making it back to the Open itself.

Other competitors at the Broadmoor this year are Shane Bertsch of Parker, a longtime PGA/Web.com Tour player who competed in the U.S. Open in 1998 and 2013 (he won a Sectional qualifying tournament last year); former CGA Player of the Year Steve Irwin of Arvada, a contestant in the 2011 U.S. Open; and Air Force Academy senior Kyle Westmoreland, one of the co-medalists in Local Qualifying at the West Course last year.

— U.S. Open Local Qualifying Monday at Heritage at Westmoor: This qualifier also features 84 players vying for five spots in the Sectionals.

The field here includes reigning HealthOne Colorado Open champion Zahkai Brown of Arvada; 2013 CGA Match Play winner David Oraee of Greeley; Keith Humerickhouse of Eagle, a former playing professional who has won the last four CGA Mid-Amateurs; University of Colorado freshman Jeremy Paul, a second-team All-Pac-12 Conference selection this year; Scott Petersen of Parker, who won a Web.com Tour event and the Colorado Open in 2000; and Caine Fitzgerald of Parker, who qualified for the 2013 PGA Championship.

— U.S. Open Local Qualifying Tuesday at Collindale: Eighthy-three players are signed up for this site, with the top four finishers moving on to Sectionals.

Former PGA Tour player Leif Olson of Golden will compete at Collindale, along with former HealthOne Colorado Open champion Nathan Lashley of Scottsdale, Ariz.

Also in this field are Jason Preeo of Highlands Ranch, who made the cut in the 2010 U.S. Open and who advanced to Sectionals last year; 2010 CGA Public Links champion Riley Arp, who likewise made the grade at the Collindale Local Qualifying in 2013; and several college golfers from Colorado State and the University of Northern Colorado (Cameron Harrell, Parker Edens, Steven Kupcho and Ben Krueger among them).

— U.S. Women’s Open Sectional Qualifying Wednesday at Heritage at Westmoor: This field will include 57 players who will battle it out over 36 holes for just two Women’s Open berths. Westmoor will be one of 24 Sectional sites internationally.

The great majority of entrants at this site are amateurs — 45, to be exact. Those include some of the top players at Colorado-based Division I universities — including Norwegians Tonje Daffinrud and Mariell Bruun from the University of Denver, and Jennifer Coleman of the University of Colorado — as well as two-time CWGA Player of the Year Somin Lee, who competes for Pepperdine. Daffinrud is ranked No. 15 among the nation’s women’s college golfers by Golfstat.

The four players who qualified in Colorado for the U.S. Women’s Amateur last year — Jennifer Kupcho, Coleman, Jennifer Yang and Hannah Wood — are also in the field.

Some of the top contenders for the state high school titles, which are set for May 19-20, are likewise competing at Westmoor: Wood, Kupcho, Calli Ringsby and Sydney Merchant.

Among the professionals entered is former HealthOne Colorado Women’s Open champion Erin Houtsma. Also playing is Kayla Riede, medalist in the last two U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links qualifiers held in Colorado.