Jennifer Kupcho has accomplished more in the last two months than many elite-level amateur golfers do in a lifetime.
To finish up her freshman season of college golf at Wake Forest, the Westminster resident finished second at the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship, seventh in the NCAA Stanford Regional, and sixth in the Women’s NCAA Finals.
And back in Colorado, she qualified for her first U.S. Women’s Open and won two CWGA championships in the course of eight days.
The second of those victories came on Thursday when the 19-year-old dominated in the final to win her second CWGA Match Play, this one the 101st version of the tourament, at Aurora Hills Golf Course.
“Jennifer is just such a special player,” noted Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Christie Austin, who watched her compete in the Women’s NCAA Finals and will be on hand next month at the U.S. Women’s Open.
In Thursday’s scheduled 36-hole title match that ended before noon, Kupcho (left and above) warmed up for her U.S. Women’s Open appearance with a 12-and-10 victory over Jaylee Tait of Littleton.
The margin was the largest in a CWGA Match Play final in at least the last decade, before which records aren’t complete.
Kupcho last week won the CWGA Mashie team event with University of Colorado golfer Gillian Vance, who Kupcho defeated in the Match Play semifinals. Overall, Kupcho has captured six CWGA championships, including the 2014 and ’16 Match Plays and the 2015 Stroke Play. She was the CWGA Player of the Year in both 2014 and ’15.
“It’s definitely awesome,” she said of her latest win. “The field was full of college players so that was exciting. And I love match play, so to win this for the second time was neat.”
On Thursday, Kupcho was 9 under par through the 26 holes and didn’t make a bogey. By her round-by-round recollection, she was 31 under par for 89 holes this week at Aurora Hills, including the 18-hole stroke-play qualifier.
“I like going under par,” Kupcho said with a smile. “In college it’s definitely harder to go under par. To come here and be able to do that is a lot of fun.
“I’ve definitely seen my game improve since I’ve gone to college. (Recent accomplishments) are just a continuation of everything.”
Against Tait (left), a Montana State golfer who qualified for the 2014 U.S. Women’s Amateur, Kupcho was 8 up through 18 holes and closed things out with a two-putt birdie on the eighth hole of the second round.
“I just didn’t make enough birdies (one),” said the 20-year-old Tait, who placed third in the Big Sky Conference tournament this spring. “She played really well and she’s hitting it really well.
“I didn’t birdie any of the (seven) par-5s through 26 holes — and they’re not playing very long. That was my weakness. I think (Kupcho) birdied almost all of them (five of the seven), so I gave up a lot there. And she was making putts when she was outside of me.”
Tait’s older sister, Ashley, who won the 2008 CWGA Stroke Play, also lost in a CWGA Match Play final, falling to Chelsey Collins in 2009.
To see all the championship and consolation brackets from the CWGA Match Play, CLICK HERE.
To read about the CWGA Senior Match Play finals, CLICK HERE.
CWGA Match Play Finals
Thursday at Aurora Hills GC
Championship Flight
36-Hole Championship — Jennifer Kupcho def. Jaylee Tait, 12 and 10
Consolation — Delaney Elliott def. Klara Castillo, 2 and 1
Senior Championship Flight
Championship — Kim Eaton def. Christie Austin, 6 and 4
Consolation — Kelly Martin def. Jennifer Hocking, 3 and 2
First Flight
Championship — Mariah Ehrman def. Candace Meyers, 4 and 2
Consolation — Michelle Romano def. Suzy Leprino, 1 up
Second Flight
Championship — Sharon Thiel def. Lea Croghan, 19 holes
Consolation — Jennifer Cassell def. Karin Hathaway, 6 and 4
Third Flight
Championship — Rose Rismanchi def. Becky Finger, 2 up
Consolation — Lori Maul def. Amy Hicks, 5 and 4
