Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster is the fifth-ranked women’s college golfer in the country, according to Golfweek, and she’s certainly living up to her billing this week at the Women’s NCAA Division I Regionals.
The Wake Forest sophomore (pictured) finished Tuesday’s second round of the Athens (Ga.) Regional where she started it — in the lead. Kupcho fired a 2-under-par 70, which means she’ll take a one-stroke lead into Wednesday’s final round. The three-time CWGA Player of the Year stands at 6-under 138 for 36 holes.
Already winner of two individual college titles this season, Kupcho recorded four birdies and two bogeys on Tuesday. With her Wake Forest squad unlikely to qualify as a team for the NCAA Finals — it’s in 15th place, and only the top six finishers will advance to the Finals, set for May 19-24 at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Ill. — Kupcho will probably need to earn an individual berth. The top three individuals not on a qualifying team will advance to Rich Harvest Farms, and she’s obviously in good position to move on.
At other Women’s NCAA DI Regionals, the University of Colorado remains within striking distance of a team berth into Finals. The Buffs are in ninth place in Columbus, Ohio, five strokes out of the crucial sixth position. Brittany Fan is leading CU individually as she’s in 22nd place.
In the Albuquerque Regional, the University of Denver is in 14th place, 18 strokes out of the sixth spot. Mariell Bruun is pacing DU, standing 38th individually.
Meanwhile, Coloradan Hannah Wood, like Kupcho a U.S. Women’s Open qualifier last year, is in 19th place individually in the Lubbock (Texas) Regional. The Oklahoma junior has carded rounds of 75-72.
At the Women’s Division II Regionals, two Coloradans are in the top 10 individually. Alex Trask of William Jewell College is sixth in Canton, Ohio, and Mary Weinstein of Regis University is ninth in Wichita Falls, Texas. The top three teams and top three individuals not on those teams from each regional will advance to the DII nationals, scheduled for May 17-20 in Findlay, Ohio.
At the Women’s NCAA Division III Finals in Houston, Coloradan Mackenzie Cohen holds 10th place after an opening round of 76.
And at the Men’s NCAA Division II Regionals in Stockton, Calif., four Coloradans are in the top 10 individually with one round remaining. Trevor McKune of Colorado Mesa (66-68–134) holds third place and trails leader Trevor Lampson of California Baptist by three. Jake Ice of Colorado State-Pueblo (136) and Colin Prater of Colorado-Colorado Springs (136) share sixth place and Tanner Comes of UCCS (138) is eighth. Colorado State-Pueblo is the top Colorado-based team, sitting in 10th place. At least the top three teams and the top two individuals not on those teams will advance from the South Central/West Regional to the DII national finals, set for May 22-26 in Kissimmee, Fla.
WOMEN’S NCAA DIV. I REGIONALS
May 8-10, 2017 in Athens, Ga.
1. Coloradan Jennifer Kupcho, Wake Forest 68-70–138
May 8-10, 2017 in Columbus, Ohio
9. (out of 18 teams) Colorado 313-299–612
22. Brittany Fan 77-74–151
28. Kirsty Hodgkins 80-72–152
33. Robyn Choi 75-78–153
53. Esther Lee 81-75–156
93. Lauryn Keating 90-83–173
May 8-10, 2017 in Albuquerque, N.M.
14. (out of 18 teams) Denver 305-300–605
38. Mariell Bruun 75-74–149
45. Jessica Carty 76-74–150
60. Jessica Dreesbeimdieke 75-78–153
71. Sophie Newlove 80-75–155
77. Lauren Whyte 79-77–156
May 8-10, 2017 in Lubbock, Texas
19. Coloradan Hannah Wood, Oklahoma 75-72–147
36. Katrina Prendergast, Colorado State 74-76–150
49. Former CU golfer Natalie Vivaldi, San Diego State 74-79–153
68. Former DU golfer Elyse Smidinger, Oregon State 78-78–156
WOMEN’S NCAA DIV. II REGIONALS
May 8-10, 2017 in Wichita Falls, Texas
9. Mary Weinstein, Regis 75-75–150
May 8-10, 2017 in Canton, Ohio
6. Colorado resident Alex Trask, William Jewell College 73-76–149
WOMEN’S NCAA DIV. III FINALS
May 9-12, 2017 in Houston
10. Coloradan Mackenzie Cohen, Rhodes College 76
59. Coloradan Madison McCambridge, Wisconsin-Stout 83
MEN’S NCAA DIV. II REGIONALS
May 8-10, 2017 in Stockton, Calif.
10. (out of 20 teams) Colorado State-Pueblo 283-286–569
6. Jake Ice 69-67–136
41. Roy Carlsen 69-73–142
48. Neil Tillman 72-71–143
77. GJ Kuhn 73-75–148
96. Jacob Allenback 73-78–151
11. Colorado School of Mines 290-280–570
30. George Markham 71-70–141
30. Tim Amundson 74-67–141
61. Taylor MacKay 69-76–145
61. Nic Beno 76-69–145
93. Eric Marshall 76-74–150
12. Colorado-Colorado Springs 293-278–571
6. Colin Prater 70-66–136
8. Tanner Comes 69-68–137
77. Zach Berhost 78-70–148
104. Ji Jang 76-78–154
104. Blake Young 80-74–154
20. Colorado Christian 285-298–583
48. Chase Carlson 70-73–143
48. Jack Cummings 73-70–143
77. Josh Gardella 69-79–148
85. Hayden Nicholaides 73-76–149
104. Andrew Kennedy 75-79–154
Also
3. Trevor McKune, Colorado Mesa 66-68–134
61. Jordan McBrayer, Regis 74-71–145
