Before the new millennium, the Americans won the competition 13 times. But after capturing the title in 1998, when Coloradan Barbara McIntire was captain, the spigot has been closed.

Not once in the 21st century has the U.S. prevailed in this world championship.

But this year’s American squad, led by Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster, might end the drought. Through Friday’s third round of the 72-hole event in Dublin, Ireland, the U.S. leads defending champion South Korea by five strokes.

With the American team featuring the top three-ranked women’s amateurs in the world — including Kupcho in the No. 1 slot — it’s played up to its billing so far. With the top two scores each day counting toward the team total, the U.S. shot a 1-under-par 143 on Friday, putting the Americans at 19-under 415 overall going into Saturday’s final round.

South Korea checks in at 420 and Japan at 421 in the 57-team event.

For the third straight day, Kupcho posted the low score for the U.S. — or at least tied for the low of the day. The NCAA Division I individual champion from Wake Forest remained in third place out of 170 players, rallying at the end of her round to stay three strokes behind the leader, Ayean Cho of South Korea. Second place Yuka Yasuda of Japan stands in second, two ahead of Kupcho.

After two rounds of going bogey-free, the Coloradan bogeyed her first two holes on Friday and was 3 over par for the day through six holes. But she righted the ship and finished with a flurry, playing her final seven holes in 4 under par. Her 1-under-par 71 put her at 11-under 206.

Teammate Kristen Gillman, the two-time U.S. Women’s Amateur champion, is in fourth place at 211 after a 72 on Friday. And Lilia Vu is tied for sixth at 214 after a third-round 214.

(Team USA is pictured, from left: Vu, Gillman and Kupcho.)

Meanwhile, University of Colorado golfer Kirsty Hodgkins sits in 114th place individually as a third-round 83 left her at 232 for three days. Her Australian team shares 17th place at 438.

Play in the event will conclude on Saturday.

Here are the scores for the U.S. team, including Coloradan Jennifer Kupcho, in addition to those of CU golfer Kirsty Hodgkins, who’s competing for her native Australia:

1. (out of 57 teams) USA 142-130-143–415
3. (out of 170 individuals) Jennifer Kupcho 70-65-71–206
4. Kristen Gillman 74-65-72–211
6. Lilia Vu 72-69-73–214

Also
114. CU golfer Kirsty Hodgkins, Australia 75-74-83–232

For all the results from the Women’s World Amateur Team Championship, CLICK HERE.

Kupcho, the reigning Women’s NCAA Division I individual champion from Wake Forest, had her second straight bogey-free day on Thursday, making eight birdies. In an eight-hole stretch starting at No. 3, she made six birdies. That puts the No. 1-ranked women’s amateur in the world at 10-under 135 at the halfway point of the event.

In the 170-player individual competition, Kupcho trails only co-leaders Yuka Yasuda of Japan and Ayean Cho of South Korea, who sit at 132, three ahead of the Coloradan. Cho fired a 64 on Thursday and Yasuda a 67.

“I was hitting the ball really well and I actually made a quite a few putts but I left a few out there too,” Kupcho told the USGA. “So I need to work on my putting a little bit.”

In the team competition, the U.S. moved into a position befitting a team with the top three-ranked women’s amateurs in the world. With the top two scores each day from the three-person squad counting toward the team total, the Americans posted a stellar 16-under 130 total on Thursday, with two-time U.S. Women’s Amateur champion Kristen Gillman matching Kupcho’s 65. Lilia Vu carded a 69.

(Team USA is pictured in a USGA photo, from left: Gillman, captain Stasia Collins, Kupcho and Vu.)

After two days, the U.S. stands at 18-under 272, a 36-hole record for this event and one stroke better than defending champion South Korea and three ahead of Japan. In all, 57 teams are competing in the tournament.

All three of the Americans are in the top 10 individually. With Kupcho in third, Gillman is in sixth place at 139, while Vu shares seventh at 141.

The U.S. finished sixth at the last biennial Women’s WATC, in 2016 as South Korea won. 

Meanwhile, University of Colorado golfer Kirsty Hodgkins sits in 66th place individually as a 74 left her at 149 for two days. Her Australian team shares 12th place at 289.

Play in the event will continue through Saturday.

Here are the scores for the U.S. team, including Coloradan Jennifer Kupcho, in addition to those of CU golfer Kirsty Hodgkins, who’s competing for her native Australia:

1. (out of 57 teams) USA 142-130–272
3. (out of 170 individuals) Jennifer Kupcho 70-65–135
6. Kristen Gillman 74-65–139
7. Lilia Vu 72-69–141

Also
T62. CU golfer Kirsty Hodgkins, Australia 75-74–149

For all the results from the Women’s World Amateur Team Championship, CLICK HERE.