Jennifer Kupcho’s Awesome Year

Jon Rizzi | Colorado AvidGolfer

At the tender age of 17, Jennifer Kupcho had a season for the ages. Currently a senior at Broomfield’s Jefferson Academy, Kupcho in May thumped the competition by 14 shots to win the High School Class 4A state title at The Country Club of Colorado. She then took the Colorado Women’s Junior Stroke Play Championship by nine strokes at Buffalo Run Golf Club and outdueled Tori Glenn 6 and 5 in the finals of the Colorado Women’s Match Play Championship at Lone Tree. Then, in October, 14 shots separated her from the field in the Colorado Junior Golf Association Tournament of Champions at Omni Interlocken Golf Club.

“They were all fun,” she says, “but the one that really sticks out is the Colorado Women’s Open.” In the first round, Kupcho fired a career-low, bogey-free 66 to lead a strong field in the August championship at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club. Only a back-nine 42 (resulting in a 78) on the second day kept her from becoming only the second amateur (after current LPGA player Paige Mackenzie in 2006) ever to win the event. Kupcho finished tied for second, just two shots behind winner Kendall Dye.

“It’s been coming; I can’t say I’m surprised,” says Ed Oldham, the PGA Professional at The Ranch Country Club in Westminster, of Jennifer’s success. Along with her father, Mike, who coaches her at Jefferson Academy, Oldham has worked for years with Jennifer and her brother Steven (the 2012 Colorado Golf Association Player of the Year and a senior on the University of Northern Colorado golf team). “We talked last year about not being satisfied with being one of the best players in Colorado, but being one of the best players in the country,” Oldham says. To date, Kupcho has qualified for three USGA championships.

Oldham and Kupcho focus a great deal on course management. Although both describe her as “stubborn,” Kupcho absorbs the advice and ascribes much of this year’s success to putting games that “keep it fun to practice and help me stay competitively sharp.” She also gives a shout out to her dad, who has had her play against the course rating at different venues as a way to challenge her.

Kupcho considered eight Division I programs before signing a letter of intent to attend to Wake Forest, currently ranked in the top 10 in the country. “It’ll be fun to jump on that train with them,” she says. Before she does, however, she’ll receive the Colorado Women’s Golf Association’s 2014 Player of the Year and Junior Player of the Year awards, compete in some national tournaments and start for the Jefferson Academy girls basketball team. Anything else? “I’m looking forward to defending my titles.”

RELATED LINKS

Jennifer Kupcho Wins CJGA Tournament of Champions

Kupcho’s opening round 66 leads CO Women’s Open by 1

Kupcho Dominates at CWGA Match Play Championship

Ross Macdonald Repeats as CGA Junior Champion

Colorado AvidGolfer is the state’s leading resource for golf and the lifestyle that surrounds it. It publishes eight issues annually and proudly delivers daily content via www.coloradoavidgolfer.com. Jon Rizzi is the founding editor and co-owner of this regional golf-related media company producing magazines, web content, tournaments, events and the Golf Passport.