After having earned her 2019 LPGA Tour card but deferring taking membership because she wanted to complete her senior season and graduate from Wake Forest, Kupcho (left in an LPGA photo) indicated earlier this month that she planned to focus on school and college golf in her final semester at Wake.

But after the team’s schedule underwent some minor tweaking, Kupcho decided to compete at Augusta National just before the Masters. The 21-year-old earned an invitation by being among the top 30 U.S. players in the final Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking of 2018. (Updated Jan. 23: Kupcho returned to No. 1 in the world rankings on Wednesday.)

Augusta National Women’s Amateur officials announced on Tuesday that 66 players have accepted invitations for the inaugural event, including 36 from outside the U.S. A 72-person field is planned.

The competitors will play the first 36 holes at Champions Retreat Golf Club in Evans, Ga., on April 3 and 4, with a practice round set for Augusta National on April 5 before the 30 players who make the cut compete in the final round at Augusta National on Saturday, April 6.

NBC will televise three hours of that final round, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (MT)

For the entire Augusta National Women’s Amateur field to date, CLICK HERE.
 

On Tuesday, the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame named Kupcho its Amateur Athlete of the Year — regardless of sport — for 2018. She and the other athletes of the year — including Denver Broncos rookie Phillip Lindsay — plus the six CSHOF inductees (Missy Franklin, Daniel Graham, Todd Lodwick, Bob Smith, Marvin Kay and Tom Southall) will be honored at the organization’s Induction & Awards Banquet on April 3 at the Hilton Denver City Center (1701 California St.).

Kupcho had another stellar year in 2018, highlighted by becoming the first Coloradan to win the individual title at the Women’s NCAA Division I Golf Championships. The now-Wake Forest senior previously had finished sixth (as a freshman) and second (as a sophmore) at the NCAA national tournament.

That title helped Kupcho to be named the world’s female Amateur of the Year by digital golf news magazine Global Golf Post. Last summer, Kupcho became the first American woman to earn the Mark H. McCormack Medal (above) as the top women’s player in the World Amateur Golf Rankings at the time (she’s currently No. 2).

In November, Kupcho capped off the year in fine fashion by earning her 2019 LPGA Tour card by placing second in the eight-round LPGA final qualifying tournament. But Kupcho will defer joining the Tour until after completing her college elibility in May.

Last summer, Kupcho represented the U.S. in three international competitions as American prevailed in the Curtis Cup, Arnold Palmer Cup and the World Amateur Team Championship. And she finished second individually — out of a field of 170 — at the World Amateur Team Championship.

Kupcho played in the LPGA Tour’s Marathon Classic in July, placing 16th, her best showing in an LPGA event.

Last fall, Kupcho was named the Golf Person of the Year by the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame for the second time in three years.
  

Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster is in excellent shape as rounds of 68-67 over the weekend vaulted the No. 1 women’s amateur in the world into third place in the 102-player Q-Series field.

And with the top 45 finishers and ties after eight rounds earning spots on the LPGA Tour, Becca Huffer of Denver moved into the top 40 on Sunday with her second consecutive 2-under-par 70 at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina.

If the Q-Series had ended on Sunday, a total of 6-over 294 or better would have been enough to earn LPGA Tour cards. Kupcho, the NCAA Division I champion from Wake Forest, shares third place at 8-under-par 280. Huffer is tied for 36th place at 293. (Kupcho is pictured on Sunday in a photo courtesy of her family.)

And the other two competitors with strong Colorado ties are not far off the pace with four rounds remaining. Former University of Colorado golfer Jenny Coleman is tied for 51st at 296, while current CU golfer Robyn Choi is 87th at 301.

After two off-days, the second half of the Q-Series will run Wednesday through Saturday (Oct. 31-Nov. 3) also at the Pinehurst Resort, but on the No. 7 course. Scores are cumulative for the eight rounds of the event.

Amateurs — such as Kupcho — who go on to earn their LPGA Tour cards can defer their acceptance of membership until July 1, 2019. That means they could complete their college seasons before joining the LPGA Tour should they qualify.

No one scored better over the weekend than did Kupcho, who along with U.S. Curtis Cup teammate Lauren Stephenson went 68-67 on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. On Sunday, Kupcho went bogey-free, making five birdies on the day. The 21-year-old trails Q-Series leader Klara Spilkova by five strokes.

Meanwhile, Huffer, the 2013 CoBank Colorado Women’s Open champion, made four birdies and two bogeys on Sunday at Pinehurst No. 6 to leave herself in good shape going into the final four rounds.

Here are the round-by-round scores for the players with strong Colorado connections:

3. Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster 73-72-68-67–280
36. Becca Huffer of Denver 77-76-70-70–293
51. Former CU golfer Jenny Coleman 75-75-74-72–296
87. CU golfer Robyn Choi 79-79-67-76–301

For complete results, CLICK HERE.
     

The Westminster resident (left in a photo courtesy of the Kupcho family) was one stroke off the lowest round of the day on Saturday in shooting a 4-under-par 68 and shares seventh place after the third round of the eight-round event in Pinehurst, N.C.

Kupcho, the NCAA Division I champion from Wake Forest who’s the No. 1-ranked women’s amateur in the world, used an eagle on her 15th hole Saturday to shoot a 4-under 32 on her back nine. She finished with an eagle, four birdies and two bogeys to check in at 3-under 213 overall. She trails leader Klara Spilkova by eight.

The Q-Series features two 72-hole stroke-play tournaments held on consecutive weeks — Wednesday through Sunday and Oct. 31-Nov. 3, both at Pinehurst Resort. Scores are cumulative over the two weeks, with the top 45 finishers and ties earning LPGA cards. As of the end of Saturday’s round, the players at 5-over 221 and better were inside the top 45.

Amateurs — such as Kupcho — who go on to earn their LPGA Tour cards can defer their acceptance of membership until July 1, 2019. That means they could complete their college seasons before joining the LPGA Tour should they qualify.

Two other players with strong Colorado ties also posted under-par rounds on Saturday, though they remain outside the top 45 in the 102-player field.

University of Colorado golfer Robyn Choi, who started the Q-Series with back-to-back rounds of 79, tied for the low round of the day on Saturday as she made six birdies en route to a 67, leaving her at 225 and in 78th place.

And Becca Huffer of Denver carded a 70 to check in at 223, good for 59th place. One stroke behind her is former CU golfer Jenny Coleman, who recorded a 74 on Saturday.

Here are the round-by-round scores for the players with strong Colorado connections:

7. Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster 73-72-68–213
59. Becca Huffer of Denver 77-76-70–223
70. Former CU golfer Jenny Coleman 75-75-74–224
78. CU golfer Robyn Choi 79-79-67–225

For complete results, CLICK HERE.
 

It has a satisfying ring to it.

Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster, the Women’s NCAA Division I individual champion from Wake Forest, has represented the U.S. in three major international team competitions in the last three months. And in those championships, the Americans went 3-0.

The victories in the Curtis Cup and the Arnold Palmer Cup were nice, but there were just two teams involved in each case. At this week’s Women’s World Amateur Team Championship, there were 57 teams competing.

And though it was the Americans’ 14th victory in the competition, it was their first in 20 years.

Now that’s satisfying.

“It was so exciting to win as a team!” Kupcho said in a text exchange with ColoradoGolf.org. “We worked so well together and truly fought for every stroke because we wanted to win so badly for each other.”

(The victorious U.S. team is pictured, from left, Kristen Gillman, Kupcho, Lilia Vu and captain Stasia Collins in a USGA photo.)

The only thing that would have made it better for Kupcho would have been winning the individual competition in Dublin, Ireland on Saturday. But after holding the outright lead on several occasions in the middle of the final round — including with four holes remaining — she had to settle for second place individually out of 170 players.

But given the way individual champion Ayean Cho of South Korea played down the stretch, that undoubtedly made coming up a little short easier to take. Cho struggled in a big way at the end of the front nine on Saturday, playing her final five holes of that side in 4 over par.

But Cho, the No. 18-ranked women’s amateur in the world, kicked it into high gear on the back nine, shooting a 5-under 31. She played her final eight holes in 5 under and her final four in 3 under. Even with Kupcho posting a 2-under 34 on the back nine — and a 4-under 69 for the day — she couldn’t keep pace down the stretch.

Cho ended up with a 3-under-par 70 to finish at 17-under-par 273. Kupcho, the top-ranked women’s amateur in the world, shared second place individually at 275 with Japan’s Yuka Yasuda. Kupcho posted five birdies and one bogey in the final round.

“Individually I struggled with a couple of bad shots and a missed 1 1/2-footer on the 17 so congratulations to Ayean,” Kupcho texted. “She’s a great player and it was fun to play with her all four days.”

But this is primarily a team event, and the U.S. put its best foot forward by fielding a squad which featured the top three-ranked women’s amateurs in the world — Kupcho, UCLA’s Lilia Vu and Alabama’s Kristen Gillman, who recently won her second U.S. Women’s Amateur title.

The Americans took the lead after the second round and expanded it on day 3 and day 4.

With a 29-under-par total, the U.S. ended up prevailing by 10 strokes over runner-up Japan and by 11 over defending champion South Korea.

With the top two scores each day counting toward the team total, the Americans shot a 10-under 136 on Saturday, with Gillman carding a 67 and Kupcho a 69. Vu closed with a 74.

All three of the U.S. players finished in the top 20 individually, with Kupcho second (275), Gillman fourth (278) and Vu 17th (288).

The last time the U.S. had won the team title in this event was in 1998, when Coloradan Barbara McIntire was the non-playing captain.

Meanwhile, University of Colorado golfer Kirsty Hodgkins shot a 71 on Saturday to finish in 92nd place at 303 for four days. Her Australian team placed 14th at 577.

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 142-130-143-136–551
2. (out of 170 individuals) Jennifer Kupcho 70-65-71-69–275
4. Kristen Gillman 74-65-72-67–278
17. Lilia Vu 72-69-73-74–288

Also
92. CU golfer Kirsty Hodgkins, Australia 75-74-83-71–303

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

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.

On Friday, the USGA and the R&A announced that Kupcho has earned the Mark H. McCormack Medal as the top women’s player in the World Amateur Golf Rankings as of the conclusion of last week’s U.S. Women’s Amateur.

Kupcho, the 2018 Women’s NCAA Division I individual champion from Wake Forest, becomes the first American to win the women’s McCormack honor since it was first presented in 2011. The Coloradan is just the fourth women’s recipient overall, following Lydia Ko of New Zealand (2011 through ’13), Minjee Lee of Australia (2014) and Leona Maguire of Ireland (2015 through ’17).

“It’s a really big honor to get this medal,” said Kupcho (left), a 21-year-old who’s set to begin her senior season at Wake Forest. “Obviously it’s been a long stretch of hard work, and it” great to see it pay off and to have the pride of coming out on top.”

The McCormack Medal gives Kupcho spots in next year’s U.S. Women’s Open and Ricoh Women’s British Open, provided she remains an amateur. The 2019 U.S. Women’s Open is set for May 30-June 2 in Charleston, S.C. Kupcho finished 21st in that event last year.

Kupcho, who first ascended to the No. 1 spot in the women’s world amateur rankings on July 11, has helped lead U.S. teams to victories at both the Curtis Cup and Arnold Palmer Cup competitions, and she will represent America again in the Women’s World Amateur Team Championship Aug. 29-Sept. 1 in Dublin, Ireland.

In her three women’s NCAA Championship finals, Kupcho has finished sixth, second and first individually. She’s also won two consecutive NCAA regional titles. Kupcho will go into her final season having won seven individual college championships.

And last month, she posted her best finish in an LPGA Tour event, placing 16th in the LPGA Marathon Classic.

“Not only has Jennifer put together a remarkable individual season, highlighted by her NCAA Championship win, but she also represented the USA with respect, talent and passion during the Curtis Cup match,” said John Bodenhamer, USGA senior managing director of championships. “We look forward to watching her do the same as a member of our World Amateur Team.”

The McCormack Medal is named for World Golf Hall of Famer Mark McCormack, the founder of sports marketing firm IMG.
 

Otherwise, the Westminster resident would be in line for a payday on the world’s top women’s golf circuit.

Kupcho, who earned a berth in the Marathon Classic by virtue of winning the Women’s NCAA Division I title in May, will be making it a four-day stay in Ohio as she made the 36-hole cut on Friday.

In fact, with rounds of 68-71, the newly minted world’s No. 1-ranked amateur in women’s golf is in the top 30 heading into the weekend. At 3-under-par 139, she shares 26th place and sits six strokes behind co-leaders Brooke Henderson and Caroline Hedwall. (Kupcho is pictured on Friday in a photo courtesy of the Kupcho family.)

It’s the second made cut for Kupcho in three LPGA Tour events. She’s one-for-two at the U.S. Women’s Open, where he finished 21st last year.

On Friday, Kupcho made two birdies and two bogeys in her round of 71. Through 36 holes, she shares low-amateur honors in the event with Bianca Pagdanganan.

For all the scores from the Marathon Classic, CLICK HERE.

A month after going 3-1-1 in the Americans’ Curtis Cup rout of Great Britain & Ireland, Kupcho teamed up with Matthew Wolff to defeat Olivia Mehaffey and Viktor Hovland of the International squad, 4 and 2 in Friday’s mixed four-ball of the Arnold Palmer Cup in Evian-les-Bains, France. The Palmer Cup features the top players in college golf competing in a Ryder Cup-like competition.

In the first Palmer Cup to include female competitors, Kupcho, the NCAA individual champion from Wake Forest, helped the U.S. build an 8-4 lead with two days remaining in the event.

Kupcho and Wolff, who plays for NCAA team champion Oklahoma State, never trailed on Friday, but were all square with Mehaffey and Hovland through eight holes. But the Americans won four consecutive holes starting on No. 9 to take control. During that stretch, Kupcho and Wolff went eagle, birdie, birdie, birdie.

Overall on Friday, after parring each of their first three holes,
Kupcho and Wolff played their final 13 holes in 10 under par and their final eight holes in 8 under. They earned the first point for the U.S. team.

Saturday will feature mixed foursomes in the morning and a four-ball in the afternoon. And Sunday will be singles matches.

The event is being held at the Evian Resort Golf Club, which annually hosts the Evian Championship on the LPGA Tour.

Kupcho, who’s ranked No. 2 in the world in women’s amateur golf, is the third player who’s grown up in Colorado to have competed in the Palmer Cup, following Steve Ziegler (2009) and Wyndham Clark (2014). Cherry Hills Country Club hosted the matches in 2009, with Palmer himself in attendance. Palmer, of course, played golf at the same university as Kupcho does — Wake Forest. The King passed away in 2016.

The Americans lead the all-time series, 11-9-1. This is the first year an international squad is facing the U.S., rather than one strictly limited to European players.

For all the Palmer Cup results from Friday, CLICK HERE.