A grand total of one amateur has won the HealthOne Colorado Women’s Open in the first 19 years the tournament has been contested.
Jennifer Kupcho would be only too happy to give Paige Mackenzie, the 2006 champion, some company.
Certainly a victory would be an ideal cap to the season for the 17-year-old from Westminster. In the last three-plus months, Kupcho has won the 4A state high school tournament, the CWGA Junior Stroke Play, the CWGA Match Play and the CJGA 14-18 Junior Series Championship.
On Wednesday, competing against a field that includes roughly a dozen Symetra Tour players, Kupcho shot a bogey-free 6-under-par 66 at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club to grab a one-stroke lead after round 1 of the 54-hole event.
“That was my low round ever, and it was a tough golf course,” said the senior at Jefferson Academy. “It’s a boost of confidence. It’s exciting. I’m kind of in shock right now.”
The Wake Forest recruit birdied six of her final 11 holes after starting with seven consecutive pars. Three of her birdie putts came from at least 15 feet. She capped things off with two straight birdies — an 18-footer on No. 8 (her 17th hole) and a 5-footer on No. 9.
Kupcho holds a one-shot advantage on touring professional Lauren Mielbrecht of Gulf Stream, Fla., who made seven birdies en route to a 67. Three players are tied for third place at 69: Olivia Jordan-Higgins from the island of Jersey off the coast of France; Samantha Richdale of Canada; and Garrett Phillips of St. Simons Island, Ga.
Ironically, Kupcho’s 66 came after she’s significantly cut back on golf after starting her senior year of high school two weeks ago.
“Truthfully, I haven’t played a round except for a practice round here last weekend,” she said. “I kind of just practiced. I took a week and a half off because school started and I didn’t really have time for golf.
“Traveling all over the place (in July) and coming back and being able to take a break was good.”
Kupcho is playing in her third Colorado Women’s Open. She missed the cut in her previous two appearances.
Mielbrecht (left) started her round in style on Wednesday. The 27-year-old went birdie-birdie-birdie-birdie on the way to her 67.
“That was fun, right?” she said. “I was like, ‘He (amateur partner Sai Yamagata) probably thinks I’m not human yet until I make a par.'”
Mielbrecht, who plays a variety of tours — including in Europe and Canada, finished with seven birdies and two bogeys for the day.
The former University of Virginia golfer finished fourth as an amateur in the Colorado Women’s Open in 2007, and is right in the mix again as a professional.
“It’s a fun course to play and I love coming here,” she said. “It was a good day for sure.”
Because of the 1.8 inches of rain (left) that fell on Monday night — and despite considerable course work done by the maintenance staff in the interim — competitors played lift, clean and place on Wednesday.
So Close to the Big Time: Olivia Jordan-Higgins shot a 69 and was among the leaders Wednesday at the Colorado Women’s Open. But she was ever so close to instead competing on the LPGA Tour this year.
The player from the English Channel Island of Jersey finished 11th on the 2013 Symetra Tour money list. The significance of that is that the top 10 automatically earned 2014 LPGA Tour cards.
How close did Jordan-Higgins come to the No. 10 spot? A mere $114.
“I kind of put that down to why I’m mentally struggling this year,” the 26-year-old said Wednesday. “But I’m getting there.”
Jordan-Higgins is 45th on the 2014 Symetra money list. She’s coming off a season-best-tying finish of fifth in the Eagle Classic on Aug. 18.
Notable: Becca Huffer of Denver, who won the tournament last year and finished second in 2012, opened with a 4-over-par 76 and shares 25th place. … The championship player field will be cut to the low 40 players and ties after Thursday’s second round. … Kupcho holds an eight-stroke lead in the amateur competition. Delaney Elliott of Superior stands in second place at 74. … Scott Wylie of Denver and Tara Morris of Dodge City, Kan., shot a 12-under-par 60 and lead the pro-am competition by two.
Scores: For all the scores from the HealthOne Colorado Women’s Open, CLICK HERE.
