Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster picked up in the Women’s NCAA Division I national finals where she left off in the NCAA regionals.
Which is to say, the Wake Forest sophomore was consistently in or around the lead on Friday.
Kupcho (pictured), who won the NCAA Regional in Athens, Ga., last week, was in the outright lead with two holes left in her first round Friday in Sugar Grove, Ill., but had to settle for being two strokes out of the top spot after going double bogey-bogey on her final two holes in cold, rainy and windy conditions at Rich Harvest Farms.
The three-time CWGA Player of the Year, who ranks No. 3 among the nation’s female college players, shot a 2-over-par 74. That leaves her tied for fifth place, two behind co-leaders August Kim of Purdue and Elodie Van Dievoet of Michigan.
Kupcho, who placed sixth in the NCAA finals as a freshman, finished round 1 with six birdies, six bogeys and a double bogey. Friday ended her streak of 12 straight sub-par college rounds.
Kupcho owns three individual wins this college season.
The stroke-play portion of the Women’s NCAA DI nationals continues through Monday, with the final round being televised by the Golf Channel.
Meanwhile, at the Women’s NCAA Division II finals in Findlay, Ohio, two Coloradans will go into the final round in the top 20 individually.
Freshman Mary Weinstein of Regis University and junior Alex Trask of William Jewell College in Missouri share 19th place after Friday’s third round.
Weinstein, winner of two Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado majors and the 5A girls state high school title in 2016, shot her second consecutive 9-over-par 81. Trask, meanwhile, posted a 78 on Friday. Both stand at 19-over-par 235, 11 strokes behind co-leaders Ann Parmerter of Dallas Baptist and Marie Coors of St. Leo.
The tournament will conclude on Saturday.
Women’s NCAA Division I Finals
May 19-22, 2017 in Sugar Grove, Ill.
5. Coloradan Jennifer Kupcho, Wake Forest 74
Women’s NCAA Division II Finals
May 17-20, 2017 in Findlay, Ohio
19. Mary Weinstein, Regis 73-81-81–235
19. Coloradan Alex Trask, William Jewell 75-82-78–235
