North of the Border

If Jennifer Kupcho had to relinquish her status as reigning Canadian Women’s Amateur champion, at least she knows she gave it up to a competitor who’s had the July of a lifetime.

Kupcho, the Westminster resident who’s ranked No. 1 in the world among women amateurs, completed her title defense in the Canadian Women’s Amateur on Friday by finishing in sixth place in a very strong field in Vancouver.

Kupcho shot a course-record 64 — needing just 24 putts — in the opening round at Marine Drive Golf Club, then backed it up with scores of 75-70-68 for a 7-under-par 277 total.

That left the Women’s NCAA individual champion from Wake Forest four strokes behind winner Yealimi Noh of Concord, Calif. (Kupcho is pictured in a photo courtesy of her family.)

Noh, 16, has been making weekly headlines in July by winning the national Girls Junior PGA Championship and the U.S. Girls’ Junior title. In Vancouver, she made it three victories in a row by going 66-69-67-71.

Also in the field in Canada was Lilia Vu, the No. 2-ranked women’s amateur in the world. The UCLA golfer tied for third at 274.

For all the scores from the Canadian Women’s Amateur, CLICK HERE.