Perhaps it’s part of a mother’s job to keep her kids’ expectations reasonable, so her children aren’t crestfallen when things don’t work out.
But in this case involving Steven Kupcho of Westminster, mother didn’t know best.
The University of Northern Colorado golfer is playing in his first HealthOne Colorado Open this week, and after his second practice round at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club, he chatted with his mom about his expectations.
“I told my mom, ‘I can compete in this, I think,'” Kupcho said. “The course is fair and my game is pretty good right now. She was like, ‘How about if you just make the cut?'”
While Kupcho (pictured) certainly wanted to survive the cut to the low 60 players and ties that comes after 36 holes, he’s gone well beyond that. The 19-year-old backed up his first-round 66 with a 4-under-par 67 Friday, leaving him at a tournament-leading 9-under 133 overall.
Considering an amateur has only won two of the first 47 Colorado Opens, Kupcho being on top of the leaderboard is quite an accomplishment.
Asked what his reaction would have been if he had been told before the tournament that he’d be among the Colorado Open leaders after two rounds, Kupcho admitted,”I would have not expected to be where I am.”
That said, Kupcho has adjusted his goals accordingly.
“I’ve proved the last two days that I can play with the pros, so I go into the weekend trying to win (the tournament) I guess,” he said. “I’ve got a shot to be up there. I’ve got to be patient with my game and see what happens.”
With the threat of lightning Friday afternoon delaying play almost 2 1/2 hours, the second round will spill over into Saturday morning. Play was stopped just before 8 p.m. Friday, and it will resume at 7:30 a.m. Saturday. The cut will then be made and pairings set, and the remaining competitors are expected to begin round 3 at about 10:30 a.m., starting off both the first and 10th tees. Leaders will likely tee off at about 12:30 p.m.
Kupcho leads 2009 Colorado Open champion Derek Tolan of Highlands Ranch and Canadian Tour professional Joel Dahmen by one stroke, and Nick Killpack of St. George, Utah by two. Zahkai Brown of Arvada is among those tied for fifth place at 5 under par.
Tolan, returning to the Open after skipping a year, was 4 under par through 16 holes playing in the windy afternoon conditions on Friday. He birdied his final three holes before the horn sounded shortly before 8 p.m.
“I’m excited,” Tolan said. “It’s fun being right there again. I’m pleased to be in the hunt.”
As for Dahmen, despite going 5 over par over the last three holes, he shot a 68 Friday. Killpack matched that score.
First-round leader Tom Whitney dropped back a bit Friday and is four shots out of the top spot through 12 holes of the second round.
Through two rounds, Kupcho has racked up 12 birdies at Green Valley Ranch. A new putter this week has certainly made a difference for the 2011 CGA Junior Stroke Play champion.
“I’ve putted real solid inside of 5 feet,” Kupcho said, noting that he’s missed just one from that distance. “I feel really confident with that, and that’s allowing me to be a little more aggressive on the other putts, and (some of them) are going in.”
Dahmen, a resident of Clarkston, Wash., who is making his Colorado Open debut, was threatening to open a big lead Friday, but his rough finish scuttled that idea.
Dahmen was 13 under par for the tournament through 15 holes — having holed out on the fly for an eagle from 135 yards on No. 11 and adding seven birdies Friday — but he went bogey, double bogey, double bogey on his last three holes to settle for his 68 and a 134 total.
“There’s a beer about 20 feet away; I’m looking at that right now,” he said. “I didn’t do anything that bad the last three holes. I made two mental mistakes that cost me four shots (not knowing there was a hazard where it was behind the 17th green and miscalculating his second-shot yardage over the wetlands on No. 18).
“But I played unbelievable golf for 15 holes today. My confidence is still there. And I shot 68 so it’s not all that bad. It sucks and it’s going to sting for about an hour, but when I get over it, I’m where I need to be going into the weekend. I’m not too worried about it. I can kind of chalk it up as a learning experience to say the least, and I’ll go from there.”
Notable: Zane Zwemke of Aurora made a hole-in-one with a 6-iron on the 175-yard fifth hole Friday, but he will still miss the cut, shooting 74-75–149. Meanwhile, Joel Dahmen eagled the par-4 11th hole and amateur Grant Suggs of Greeley eagled the par-4 sixth hole. … University of Denver men’s golf coach Eric Hoos, the low amateur in last year’s HealthOne Colorado Senior Open, caddied Friday for Illinois golf coach Mike Small. …
For scores, CLICK HERE.
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Colorado Open: All the Essentials
What: 48th annual HealthOne Colorado Open.
When: Thursday through Sunday (July 26-29).
Where: Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in northeast Denver (4900 Himalaya Road).
Prize Money: $125,000, with $23,000 going to the low professional.
Field Size: 156 players, with a cut to the low 60 and ties after 36 holes.
Defending Champion: Ben Portie.
Other Former Champions in Field: Nathan Lashley (2010), Derek Tolan (2009), John Douma (2007), Dustin White (2006), Wil Collins (2005), Scott Petersen (2000), Mike Zaremba (1995), Jim Blair (1983 and 1987).
Attendance: Free.
