Which is to say, the Wake Forest sophomore was consistently in or around the lead on Friday.

Kupcho (pictured), who won the NCAA Regional in Athens, Ga., last week, was in the outright lead with two holes left in her first round Friday in Sugar Grove, Ill., but had to settle for being two strokes out of the top spot after going double bogey-bogey on her final two holes in cold, rainy and windy conditions at Rich Harvest Farms.

The three-time CWGA Player of the Year, who ranks No. 3 among the nation’s female college players, shot a 2-over-par 74. That leaves her tied for fifth place, two behind co-leaders August Kim of Purdue and Elodie Van Dievoet of Michigan.

Kupcho, who placed sixth in the NCAA finals as a freshman, finished round 1 with six birdies, six bogeys and a double bogey. Friday ended her streak of 12 straight sub-par college rounds.

Kupcho owns three individual wins this college season.

The stroke-play portion of the Women’s NCAA DI nationals continues through Monday, with the final round being televised by the Golf Channel.

Meanwhile, at the Women’s NCAA Division II finals in Findlay, Ohio, two Coloradans will go into the final round in the top 20 individually.

Freshman Mary Weinstein of Regis University and junior Alex Trask of William Jewell College in Missouri share 19th place after Friday’s third round.

Weinstein, winner of two Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado majors and the 5A girls state high school title in 2016, shot her second consecutive 9-over-par 81. Trask, meanwhile, posted a 78 on Friday. Both stand at 19-over-par 235, 11 strokes behind co-leaders Ann Parmerter of Dallas Baptist and Marie Coors of St. Leo.

The tournament will conclude on Saturday.

Women’s NCAA Division I Finals
May 19-22, 2017 in Sugar Grove, Ill.
5. Coloradan Jennifer Kupcho, Wake Forest 74

Women’s NCAA Division II Finals
May 17-20, 2017 in Findlay, Ohio
19. Mary Weinstein, Regis 73-81-81–235
19. Coloradan Alex Trask, William Jewell 75-82-78–235
 

Five years ago, Gabrielle Shipley capped off her high school golf career by winning a state title in Michigan.

On Saturday, she finished off her college golf career by claiming an individual national championship.

It was a nice bit of symmetry.

The Grand Valley State (Mich.) senior pulled off her college career dream by prevailing by one stroke in Saturday’s Women’s NCAA Division II Finals at CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora.

And she did it in style by making a 6-foot putt for birdie on her final hole as a collegian.

“I’m so excited,” she said after her one-shot victory over fellow senior Kasey Petty of Findlay (Ohio). “But I don’t know if it’s sunk in yet. I think everybody knew except me that I had to make that (final) birdie putt. I didn’t know what it was for — for my low score (ever in a college tournament) and to win it. When everyone cheered that was reassuring. I had yet to break 70 in a college tournament, so that was a goal. (Winning) was also a goal, since my freshman year. I’m so happy that I did it.”

Shipley, who has finished in the top five individually in every tournament but one this season, closed with a 3-under-par 69 to go 73-70-70-69 for a 6-under-par 282 total for the week. She made four birdies in a five-hole stretch on the front nine — draining a 50-foot double-breaker on No. 4 — then played her final four holes in 2 under par. The result was the top golf accomplishment of her young career.

“I just wanted to commit to every shot today, commit to no regrets and to just play my own game. And I did that,” she said.

But as far knowing how she stood relative to her competition, she had no interest in that.

“I had no idea where I was standing coming into the last day,” she said. “I haven’t looked at a scoreboard yet. I don’t like thinking numbers, I don’t like knowing anything because it’s just me playing the golf course. That’s all I want to focus on. I kind of knew my score, but the two bogeys (on 12 and 13) threw my brain off. I think that was kind of a blessing because I had no idea what that last birdie putt was for.”

The result was Shipley’s 11th individual victory over her college career.

Petty, who has five individual wins to her credit, bolted out to an early lead on Saturday thanks to two birdies and an eagle in her first six holes. But an eight-hole stretch in the middle of the round in which she was 3 over par cost her. A birdie on her 16th hole tied her with Shipley before the Grand Valley State golfer closed with the birdie. Petty posted a 70 and a 283 total.

Senior Isabel Jimenez Perea of Tarleton State was the only other golfer to finish under par for the week as she shot 72 Saturday and placed third at 285.

In the team competition, Rollins College (Fla.; left) earned its record sixth NCAA DII national championship in women’s golf, though the first since 2008. The Tars held or shared the lead from the end of the first round on and their 21-over-par 1,173 total was nine better than 2015 champion Indianapolis. Nova Southeastern was third at 1,183.

The title ended the careers of Rollins seniors Hally Leadbetter and Annie Dulman. They teamed with sophomores Lexi Toth and Madison Lellyo, and junior Paige Lyle. Individually, Toth placed fourth on Saturday, Dulman ninth, Leadbetter 15th, Lyle 20th and Lellyo 53rd.

Leadbetter, the daughter of world-renowned golf instructor David Leadbetter, led after 36 holes, but went 74-82 the last two days.

“The whole tournament was a team effort,” said Hally Leadbetter, who plans to go to Ladies European Tour Q-school next winter. “I was pleased I did my part the first two days. Today I obviously did my best but it wasn’t a great day (personally). That happens. But I’m so so happy that me and Annie, our other senior, could finish (with a title) because last year we lost to Indianapolis. This was now or nothing, so let’s get it done. That was really great.

“We gave it our shot with no regrets. You can’t have fear out there. We gave it our all. Thankfully it was enough.”

David Leadbetter followed his daughter all four rounds at CommonGround. (The Leadbetters are pictured at left.)

“It’s important to be out here for the last (college) tournament,” he said afterward.

The women’s tourney — and the men’s DII finals at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club — were part of the NCAA Division II National Championships Festival in which titles in six sports (M&W golf, M&W tennis, softball and women’s lacrosse) were decided.

For scores from the women’s tournament at CommonGround, CLICK HERE.
 

The three co-leaders going into the final round of the Women’s NCAA Division II Finals have a combined 27 individual college titles to their credit, but they’d probably trade them all for a victory Saturday at CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora.

The three seniors — Isabel Jimenez Perea of Tarleton State (Texas), Gabrielle Shipley (left) of Grand Valley State (Michigan) and Kasey Petty of Findlay (Ohio) — all will wrap up their college careers on Saturday and a DII national title will be on the line.

“It feels awesome,” said Petty, winner of five college events individually. “This is what I’ve been working for the last two or three years. I can’t believe it, but I’m just going to go out there tomorrow and do what I can. No pressure. It’s my last tournament ever. I’m just excited to be here and excited to be where I’m at right now.”

Perea, who’s claimed a dozen individual championships as a collegian, and Petty matched 3-under-par 69s on Friday to come in at 3-under 213 overall. Also at that figure is 10-time college winner Shipley, who carded a third-round 70.

The co-leaders are three of the five players who are under par through three days. Joining them are second-round leader Hally Leadbetter of Rollins College (Fla.) (215 after a 74 Friday) and Marisa Toivonen of Augustana (S.D.) (215 following a 72). Leadbetter’s dad, world-renowned golf instructor David Leadbetter (left), followed his daughter throughout Friday’s round.

Fifth-year senior Hally Leadbetter, like Perea a left-hander, is setting the pace for Rollins, which stands at 7-over-par 871 and leads the team competition by seven over defending champion Indianapolis. Rollins, last year’s runner-up, has won a record five national titles in women’s golf, but none since 2008.

The two sub-par team scores on Friday came from Grand Valley State (a school record 4-under 284) and Tarleton State (285), who are being led by Shipley and Perea, respectively. Tarleton stands in fourth place overall (886) and Grand Valley (890) is sixth.

“It’s been my goal since I came here freshman year (to win a national title) both individually and as a team,” said Shipley, a former Michigan state high school champion who has finished in the top five individually in every tournament but one this season. “Today was a really good day for us — we set a school record (for single-round scoring) and we were under par as a team. That was awesome.”

Perea (left), a Spaniard, is the No. 2-ranked Division II player in the nation (behind Dallas Baptist’s Ann Parmerter, who is in seventh place at 218). Perea chalked up five birdies on Friday and had eight “3s” on her card.

“It would be pretty awesome” to claim a national title on Saturday, she said.

The women’s tourney — and the men’s DII finals at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club — are part of the NCAA Division II National Championships Festival in which titles in six sports (M&W golf, M&W tennis, softball and women’s lacrosse) will be decided.

Tickets for the DII National Festival are $5 per person per day, or $15 for an all-session pass for the week. Tickets purchased at one site will be valid at all other competition sites.

For more information on the Spring Sports Festival, CLICK HERE.
 

For scores from the women’s tournament, CLICK HERE.

Mailen Domecq Chantry had an outstanding freshman season at Nova Southeastern, with two victories to her credit and a fifth-place showing in the 2015 Women’s NCAA Division II Finals.

But the Argentine’s second year at the Florida school … let’s just say she’s experienced a bit of a sophomore slump. She has just one finish in the top 20 (a 10th-place showing) and owns a 78.4 stroke average, the highest on her team.

But on Wednesday, in the most important tournament of the season, Chantry found her peak form. In the opening round of the NCAA DII Finals at CommonGround Golf Course, she grabbed the lead with a 3-under-par 69 — her best score of the season by three shots.

“I didn’t play that good this season actually,” she said after her round. “The freshman year was much better than the sophomore, so hopefully I can finish strong this year. It’s golf. It comes and goes. Hopefully it comes again.”

While there’s still three rounds remaining, suffice it to say Chantry is off to a near-ideal start. She was one of just five players who broke par at CommonGround on Wednesday.

Chantry (pictured above) holds a one-stroke advantage over freshman Brinn Fariss of Dallas Baptist and Augustana (South Dakota’s) Marisa Toivonen, who posted 70s. Vilde Eriksen of Saint Leo and Lexie Toth of Rollins College carded 71s.

Team-wise, five-time national champion and top-ranked Rollins and fellow Florida school Nova Southeastern (a four-time champ) share the lead at 2-over-par 290, with Dallas Baptist three back.

Chantry used a 60-foot birdie on the first hole (her 10th) as a spark to shoot a 4-under-par 32 on her final nine holes.

“It was a pretty nice day,” she said. “I holed very good putts and I feel very comfortable on the course, so I enjoyed it a lot.

“I’m from Argentina, and the courses are like this. (CommonGround is) pretty similar to where I live. I’m used to these kind of courses, and it’s in amazing shape.”

Now, if she can just keep the good vibe going for three more rounds.

“We have three more days, so day by day, shot by shot, try to do my best, and let’s see what happens,” she said.

Toivonen and Fariss (left) likewise finished strong on Wednesday. Toivonen made three of her six birdies in the last four holes. And Fariss rallied after being 2 over through four holes to play her final 13 holes in 4 under. That stretch included a 30-foot chip-in for birdie at No. 18.

“Personally I haven’t played very good these last two semsters, but it’s starting to come together now,” Fariss said. “I came out here pretty prepared to play and I’ve been playing good in practice. So I expected to play pretty well.”

The women’s tourney — and the men’s DII finals at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club — are part of the NCAA Division II National Championships Festival in which titles in six sports (M&W golf, M&W tennis, softball and women’s lacrosse) will be decided.

Tickets for the DII National Festival are $5 per person per day, or $15 for an all-session pass for the week. Tickets purchased at one site will be valid at all other competition sites.

For more information on the Spring Sports Festival, CLICK HERE.
 

For scores from the women’s tournament, CLICK HERE.