It used to be that victories by the U.S. in the biennial Women’s World Amateur Team Championship were expected and commonplace. But that is so 20th century.
Before the new millennium, the Americans won the competition 13 times. But after capturing the title in 1998, when Coloradan Barbara McIntire was captain, the spigot has been closed.
Not once in the 21st century has the U.S. prevailed in this world championship.
But this year’s American squad, led by Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster, might end the drought. Through Friday’s third round of the 72-hole event in Dublin, Ireland, the U.S. leads defending champion South Korea by five strokes.
With the American team featuring the top three-ranked women’s amateurs in the world — including Kupcho in the No. 1 slot — it’s played up to its billing so far. With the top two scores each day counting toward the team total, the U.S. shot a 1-under-par 143 on Friday, putting the Americans at 19-under 415 overall going into Saturday’s final round.
South Korea checks in at 420 and Japan at 421 in the 57-team event.
For the third straight day, Kupcho posted the low score for the U.S. — or at least tied for the low of the day. The NCAA Division I individual champion from Wake Forest remained in third place out of 170 players, rallying at the end of her round to stay three strokes behind the leader, Ayean Cho of South Korea. Second place Yuka Yasuda of Japan stands in second, two ahead of Kupcho.
After two rounds of going bogey-free, the Coloradan bogeyed her first two holes on Friday and was 3 over par for the day through six holes. But she righted the ship and finished with a flurry, playing her final seven holes in 4 under par. Her 1-under-par 71 put her at 11-under 206.
Teammate Kristen Gillman, the two-time U.S. Women’s Amateur champion, is in fourth place at 211 after a 72 on Friday. And Lilia Vu is tied for sixth at 214 after a third-round 214.
(Team USA is pictured, from left: Vu, Gillman and Kupcho.)
Meanwhile, University of Colorado golfer Kirsty Hodgkins sits in 114th place individually as a third-round 83 left her at 232 for three days. Her Australian team shares 17th place at 438.
Play in the event will conclude on Saturday.
Here are the scores for the U.S. team, including Coloradan Jennifer Kupcho, in addition to those of CU golfer Kirsty Hodgkins, who’s competing for her native Australia:
1. (out of 57 teams) USA 142-130-143–415
3. (out of 170 individuals) Jennifer Kupcho 70-65-71–206
4. Kristen Gillman 74-65-72–211
6. Lilia Vu 72-69-73–214
Also
114. CU golfer Kirsty Hodgkins, Australia 75-74-83–232
For all the results from the Women’s World Amateur Team Championship, CLICK HERE.
