Success North of the Border

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.