2-time regional champ Kupcho opens with 71; CU’s Hodgkins posts 72; DU in 11th place
By Gary Baines – 05/06/2019
Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster has won individual titles at the last two NCAA Regional tournaments in which she’s competed.
And she’s certainly in the mix to make it three in a row, though she has several strokes to make up.
The Wake Forest senior (pictured in a photo by Ken Assmus) shot a 1-under-par 71 on Monday at the Norman, Okla., Regional, which leaves her in 13th place with two rounds remaining. After a four-birdie, three-bogey day, the defending NCAA individual champion trails leader Michaela Fletcher of Memphis by three.
In order for Kupcho to make a fourth trip to the NCAA Championship Finals — which will be held May 17-22 in Fayetteville, Ark. — she’ll either have to qualify with her team or as an individual. The top six team finishers out of each 18-school regional field will advance, along with the top three individuals not on those teams.
As a team, Wake Forest sits in eighth place after day 1, three strokes out of the top six.
Elsewhere in NCAA Regional action:
— The University of Denver women share 11th place out of 18 teams after round 1 of the Opelika, Ala., Regional.
The Summit League champions, making their 18th consecutive NCAA Regional appearance, shot a 16-over-par 304 total and trail leader Vanderbilt by 17.
Freshman Trussy Li shot a 2-over-par 74 to lead the way for the Pioneeers individually as she’s tied for 20th place. Junior Mary Weinstein of Highlands Ranch posted a 75, good for 34th place.
— University of Colorado junior Kirsty Hodgkins, competing only as an individual in the East Lansing, Mich., Regional, fired an even-par 72 on Monday and shares 14th place at that site.
Hodgkins made one birdie and an 18th-hole bogey to go along with 16 pars.
— In the NCAA Division II West Regional in Amarillo, Texas, Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference champion Colorado State University-Pueblo sits in 11th place out of 12 teams after Monday’s opening round.
The Thunderwolves shot a 42-over-par 326, leaving them 25 strokes behind leader Oklahoma Christian. Senior Orakorn Thirayatorn, the RMAC individual champion, led the way for CSU-Pueblo on Monday with an 8-over-par 79, good for 23rd place.
Julia Baroth of Colorado-Colorado Springs, competing only as an individual, likewise carded a 79.
The top four teams and top four individuals not on those teams after 54 holes will advance to the national championships, set for May 14-18 in West Palm Beach, Fla.
WOMEN’S NCAA DIVISION I REGIONALS
Auburn, Ala. Regional May 6-8, 2019
11. (out of 18 teams) Denver 304
20. Trussy Li 74
34. Mary Weinstein 75
51. Alyson Bean 76
78. Camille Enright 79
88. Sophie Newlove 81
Norman, Okla. Regional May 6-8, 2019
13. Westminster resident Jennifer Kupcho, Wake Forest 71
East Lansing, Mich. Regional May 6-8, 2019
14. Kirsty Hodgkins, Colorado 72
WOMEN’S NCAA DIVISION II WEST REGIONAL
May 6-8, 2019 in Amarillo, Texas
11. (out of 12 teams) CSU-Pueblo 326
23. Orakorn Thirayatorn 79
34. Courtney Ewing 80
39. Jolene Kam 81
63. Rachanok Rahulpan 86
64. Amy Sutheran 87
Also
23. Julia Baroth, Colorado-Colorado Springs 79