Last week, Steven Kupcho’s younger sister, Jennifer, won the CWGA Match Play title. And on Monday at the 116th CGA Match Play, Steven seemed to pick up right where his sibling left off.
Kucho (pictured), a former University of Northern Colorado golfer who plays out of Heritage at Westmoor, shot a 6-under-par 66 at Lone Tree Golf Club to share medalist honors with Colorado State University golfer Jake Staiano of Glenmoor Country Club.
The two led the way for the 64 players who will begin match play on Tuesday. Eleven players broke par on Monday and a round of 80 or better was required to advance to match play.
While Nick Nosewicz of Meadow Hills Golf Course didn’t have the low score on Monday — though, at 69, he wasn’t far behind — he will be the No. 1 seed for match play as the defending champion. Kupcho drew the No. 2 seed and Staino No. 3.
Kupcho, the 2012 CGA Player of the Year, and Staiano, who advanced to the round of 64 at last year’s U.S. Amateur, each made seven birdies and a bogey Monday at Lone Tree, which is hosting the CGA Match Play for the first time.
Finishing third in stroke play was 2014 CGA Mid-Amateur champion Chris Thayer of Bear Creek Golf Club (67). Jimmy Makloski of Pueblo Country Club and Tristan Rohrbaugh of Ironbridge Golf Club, also both former CGA champions, shared fourth place at 68. Makloski plays college golf for CSU, while Rohrbaugh is at Boise State.
Also among those easily advancing to match play was University of Denver golfer Chris Korte of Lone Tree Golf Club, the 2015 CGA Stroke Play champion.
Play will continue throughout the week at Lone Tree, with the 36-hole final set for Friday.
For interactive scores from Monday, CLICK HERE.
116th CGA Match Play Championship
At Par-72 Lone Tree GC
Steven Kupcho, Heritage at Westmoor 33-33–66
Jake Staiano, Glenmoor CC 32-34–66
Christopher Thayer, Bear Creek GC 36-31–67
James Makloski, Pueblo CC 36-32–68
Tristan Rohrbaugh, Ironbridge GC 36-32–68
Joshua Seiple, Castle Pines GC 31-38–69
Nathaniel Goddard, Ptarmigan CC 32-37–69
Nick Nosewicz, Meadow Hills GC 35-34–69
Chris Korte, Lone Tree GC 34-36–70
Kyler Dunkle, The Club @ Pradera 37-34–71
Zach Fowlds, Colorado GC 35-36–71
Drew Vance, Heritage at Westmoor 36-36–72
Pierce Aichinger, Glenmoor CC 34-38–72
Spencer Painton, Green Valley GC 36-36–72
Sam Marley, South Suburban GG 37-35–72
Pierce Trumper, Fort Collins CC 32-40–72
Connor Klein, Lone Tree GC 37-36–73
Trevor McKune, Pinehurst CC 34-39–73
Hayden Nicholaides, Family Sports GC 38-35–73
Dylan Mitchell, Lakewood CC 38-35–73
Bretton Krantz, Ptarmigan CC 36-37–73
Alec Poorman, Flatirons GC 37-36–73
Coby Welch, Jgac Club 34-39–73
Kyler Smith, Rifle Creek GC 38-35–73
Ryan Schmitz, Colorado GC 38-36–74
Billy Ramsey, Lone Tree Mens GC 40-34–74
Josh Hill, Omni Interlocken Resort 38-36–74
Isaac Petersilie, Colorado Springs CC 37-37–74
Adam Pladson, Green Valley Ranch GC 38-37–75
Jack Cummings, Omni Interlocken Resort 35-40–75
Josh Thomas, Green Valley Ranch GC 41-34–75
Michael P Tait, Raccoon Creek GC 40-35–75
Andrew Romano, Colorado GC 35-41–76
Shawn Mercer, Lake Valley GC 39-37–76
Jeff Chapman, Inverness GC 36-40–76
Shawn Hughes, Fox Hollow GC 41-35–76
Braden Bentley, Cheyenne Shadows GC 39-37–76
Justin Allenback, Walking Stick GC 37-39–76
Austin Burgess, Patty Jewett GC 39-37–76
Dylan Rottner, City Park GC 39-37–76
Jon Lindstrom, Lakewood CC 40-37–77
John Luoma, Colorado GC 36-41–77
Glenn Workman, Desert Hawk GC 39-38–77
Matthew Goddard, Ptarmigan CC 37-40–77
Jake Kelley, Columbine CC 39-38–77
Alan Boyko, Commonground GC 36-41–77
Will Matthews, Cherry Hills CC 42-35–77
Matthew Gutowski, Coal Creek GC 39-38–77
Thomas Roos, Spring Valley GC 39-39–78
Behrod Keshtavar, Flatirons GC 40-38–78
Clayton Crawford, Maroon Creek Club 41-37–78
Jacob Allenback, Walking Stick GC 40-38–78
Roy Carlsen, Heritage at Westmoor 35-43–78
Brandon Ropp, Heather Ridge GC 39-39–78
Ben Lyons, Commonground GC 36-43–79
Chad Gonzalez, Pinery CC 40-39–79
Bryan Rusin, Green Valley Ranch GC 41-38–79
Eric Oneth, Colorado Golf Club 41-38–79
Austin John Duffy, South Suburban GC 41-38–79
Cole Cunningham, Valley CC 40-40–80
Colin Prater, Broadmoor GC 36-44–80
Jeff Oneth, Colorado GC 39-41–80
Kurtis Lucas, Patty Jewett GC 40-40–80
Brock Dowdy, Commonground GC 42-38–80
Failed to Qualify for Match Play
Lamar Carlile, City Park GC 42-39–81
Gus Lundquist, Colorado GC 43-38–81
Ji Woo Jang, Jgac Club 40-41–81
Jonathan Doern, City Park GC 41-40–81
Harris Butler, Cherry Hills CC 40-41–81
Trevor Glen, Legacy Ridge GC 38-44–82
Subin Lee, Jgac Club 41-41–82
Andrew McCormick, Denver CC 43-39–82
David W Packer, Cherry Hills CC 44-38–82
Robin Bradbury, Heritage at Westmoor 43-40–83
Jack Cavanagh, Broadlands GC 40-43–83
Brian Engh, The Club @ Pradera 43-40–83
Andrew Cooper, Glenmoor CC 41-43–84
Steve Sullivan, Lone Tree GC 42-44–86
Neil Tillman, The Club @ Ravenna 40-46–86
Josh McLaughlin, The Olde Course 42-45–87
Ryan Keefe, CommonGround GC 38-49–87
Chase Federico, Elmwood GC 49-39–88
Kyle Huber, Perry Park CC 43-45–88
Michael Schroeder, Plum Creek GC 49-49–98
