In her first tournament of the new campaign, the Westminster resident not only claimed the individual title at the Ocean Course Invitational, but she cruised to a seven-stroke victory on Tuesday.

Kupcho, a Wake Forest junior who finished second on Friday at the CoBank Colorado Women’s Open before heading to Kiawah Island, S.C., for the Ocean Course Invite, notched her fourth college win in the last 11 months.

Moreover, in her last six college events, dating back to mid-March, Kupcho has posted two victories and finished second three times and third once. That stretch includes her runner-up showing in the Women’s NCAA Finals in May.

Kupcho, the No. 3-ranked women’s amateur in the world, shot rounds of 69-68-70 for a 13-under-par 207 total on The Ocean Course, which is perhaps most famous for hosting the 1991 “War by the Shore” Ryder Cup Matches. Placing a distant second at 214 on Tuesday was Laura Kowohl of North Carolina State.

Kupcho, the Canadian Women’s Amateur champion, made 16 birdies over the course of 54 holes.

“Jennifer played awesome over all three rounds on a championship course,” Wake Forest coach Dianne Dailey said. “To shoot three consecutive rounds under par on this course is just outstanding golf.”

Jennifer Kupcho is a national champion — just not yet in the U.S.

The Westminster resident led wire-to-wire this week in earning the prestigious Canadian Women’s Amateur title on Friday at Cutten Fields in Guelph, Ontario, west of Toronto.

Kupcho, ranked No. 4 in the world among women’s amateurs after finishing 21st this month at the U.S. Women’s Open, prevailed by five strokes on Friday. She posted rounds of 65-70-66-72 for a 7-under-par 273 total. She made 20 birdies over the four days.

“I’m really excited,” Kupcho said. “I played really well this week and I’m just excited to get a national title.”

Next best in the 104th Canadian Women’s Am was another American, Lilia Kha-Tu Vu of Fountain Valley, Calif, the No. 5-ranked women’s amateur, who closed with a 73.

Kupcho becomes the second player with strong Colorado ties in the last decade to win the Canadian Women’s Amateur as then-University of Denver golfer Stephanie Sherlock claimed the title in 2007.

Kupcho, a Wake Forest junior-to-be, has proven herself to be among the best women amateurs in the world over the last two-plus months. She finished runner-up individually in the Women’s NCAA Championship in May, 21st and second low am in the U.S. Women’s Open earlier this month, then earned the Canadian Women’s Amateur title on Friday. And in the midst of all that, last month the 20-year-old won her third consecutive CWGA Stroke Play, this one by 13 shots.

The next major championship on the agenda for Kupcho will be the U.S. Women’s Amateur at San Diego Country Club Aug. 7-13. Locally, Kupcho recently committed to compete in the CoBank Colorado Women’s Open Aug. 30-Sept. 1 at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in northeast Denver.

For scores from the Canadian Women’s Amateur, CLICK HERE.
 

After all, that could have meant any of three courses in the greater Denver metro area: Heritage Eagle Bend in Aurora, Heritage Todd Creek in Thornton or Heritage at Westmoor in Westminster.

But, as of this year, that should be an issue no longer. Heritage Eagle Bend still goes by the same name, but several years back, Heritage Todd Creek became Todd Creek Golf Club. And, heading into this golf season, Heritage at Westmoor is becoming Walnut Creek Golf Preserve.

“Over time, we’ve strengthened our commitment to sustainability as well as the preservation of the unique biodiversity evident among our native flora and fauna,” Walnut Creek Golf Preserve head professional Brian Carlson said on the Golf Westminster portion of the city’s website. “The new name, Walnut Creek Golf Preserve, more acccurately captures what golfers experience when they play our course — a chance to enjoy a challenging championship course while exploring one of Colorado most naturally pristine landscapes.”

Walnut Creek is a small tributary that traverses the city-owned public course before joining with the Big Dry Creek. The city says the course is home to more than 77 wildlife species. It was designated an Aububon International Certified Signature Sanctuary in 2002, three years after the course opened.

In 2017, Walnut Creek will host several state and regional competitions, including U.S. Open Local Qualifying on May 8, the AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior by Transamerica June 6-8 (beginning at least a three-year run), a Drive Chip & Putt subregional Aug. 19 and U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Qualifying on Oct. 3.