Jennifer Kupcho has won this tournament by 21, 19
and 13 shots in the last three years (CWGA photo)
LITTLETON, CO (June 21, 2017) -
Jennifer Kupcho did something on Wednesday that no other woman had accomplished in the new millennium.
Not only did the Westminster resident become the first player in 20 years to win the CWGA Stroke Play Championship three straight times, but she claimed each of those titles by more than a dozen shots.
Kupcho, the No. 3-ranked women’s amateur in the Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com Women's World Rankings, completed her trifecta on Wednesday by chalking up a 13-shot victory at Lone Tree Golf Club in the 70th CWGA Stroke Play.
Just three weeks before she competes in her second straight U.S. Women’s Open, Kupcho became the fifth player to win the CWGA Stroke Play at least three straight years, joining four Colorado Golf Hall of Famers: Janet Moore (1994-97), Carol Flenniken (1968-70), Joan Birkland (1964-66) and Sally Hardwick (1957-59).
Kupcho, the runner-up at last month’s Women’s NCAA Division I Championships as a Wake Forest sophomore, also became the first person since Wendy Werley in 1988 and ’89 to win four straight CWGA major titles (the Stroke Play and Match Play). Alas, Kupcho’s streak is expected to end next month as a scheduling conflict likely will keep her from entering the CWGA Match Play.
The 20-year-old finished in style on Wednesday, making seven birdies in the final round to shoot a 5-under-par 67. That gave the three-time CWGA Player of the Year a 6-under 210 total for three days.
The previous two years in the Stroke Play, Kupcho prevailed by 21 and 19 shots. Overall, she’s won five CWGA majors, with Wednesday marking her second at Lone Tree.
Erin Sargent of Longmont, the 2016 4A state high school champion, tied for second at 223 on Wednesday with her University of Wyoming teammate Megan Knadler of Phoenix. Knadler closed with a 74 and Sargent with a 75.
Mary Weinstein of Highlands Ranch, the 2016 Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado’s girls Player of the Year, shot a 2-under-par 70 on Wednesday to claim fourth place at 224.
The gross winners of the other flights on Wednesday were Arielle Keating (first), Alexis Chan (second), Sue Hartwell (third) and Jean Miller (fourth).
The low net players were Maddie Kern (first flight), Chan (second), Hartwell (third) and Miller (fourth).
View results for Colorado Women's Stroke Play
ABOUT THE
Colorado Women's Stroke Play
54 holes of individual stroke play with the following divisions:
Championship Division:
There will be no flights within this division. All registered players
within the division compete against each other for Gross prizes. The
State Women’s Stroke Play Champion will be awarded from this
division.
Handicap Index Recommendation: 9.0 or below
Mid-Amateur Division (25 years or older):
There will be no flights within this division. All registered players
within the division compete against each other for Gross prizes. The
State Women’s Mid-Amateur Stroke Play Champion will be awarded
from this division.
Handicap Index Recommendation: 15.0 or below
Age Limit: Must be 25 years or older on the first day of the
championship.
Flighted Division:
Competitors are pre-flighted by playing handicap. The committee will
determine flight size based on player numbers and handicap spread.
Gross and Net prizes awarded within each flight.
Handicap Index Max: 30.0
Note: All players will compete at 95% of course handicap.
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