Taking the First Step

Jennifer Kupcho has won a women’s NCAA individual title, finished 21st in a U.S. Women’s Open (2017) and placed 16th in another LPGA Tour event (2016).

And now Kupcho, as the No. 2 player in the Women’s World Amateur Golf Rankings, is hoping to make a run at the U.S. Women’s Amateur befitting of her golf resume. The furthest she’s gone previously in the event was the round of 16 in 2015.

The Westminster resident took a step in that direction on Tuesday by qualifying for the match play portion of what is likely her final Women’s Am, in Kingston Springs, Tenn.

Fresh off being named to the three-player U.S. squad for the Women’s World Amateur Team Championship (READ MORE), Kupcho (left in a photo courtesy of the Kupcho family) finished 39th Tuesday in the stroke-play portion of the U.S. Women’s Am. With the top 64 out of the original field of 156 making match play, the first match awaits on Wednesday.

Kupcho shot a 1-over-par 72 on Tuesday at The Golf Club of Tennessee, leaving her at even-par 142 overall. She had a roller-coaster round on Tuesday, making four birdies, three bogeys and a double-bogey. She had two 2s, four 3s, one 6 and one 7 on her scorecard.

The Wake Forest senior-to-be finished nine strokes behind co-medalists Lucy Li, a 15-year-old from Redwood Shores, Calif., and Hyun Selin of South Korea.

Also making match play on Tuesday was former Parker resident Elizabeth Wang, who now lives in San Marino, Calif. Wang fired a 2-under 69 in round 2 to post a 3-under 139 total in stroke play, good for 15th place. The Harvard-bound golfer made three birdies and one bogey on Tuesday.

Coincidentally, Kupcho will face Wang in Wednesday’s round of 64.

Failing to make match play were University of Colorado golfer Gillian Vance (154), former Denver resident Emily Gilbreth (154) and University of Denver golfer Mary Weinstein (155).

Here are the scores for all the players with strong Colorado connections competing at the U.S. Women’s Amateur:

Advance to Match Play
15. Former Parker resident Elizabeth Wang 70-69–139
39. Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster 70-72–142
Failed to Advance to Match Play
133. CU golfer Gillian Vance of Lakewood 75-79–154
133. Former Denver resident Emily Gilbreth 76-78–154
139. DU golfer Mary Weinstein of Highlands Ranch 80-75–155

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