Kupcho and Wood Qualify for U.S. Women’s Open

For the eighth time in her 19-year existence, Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster qualified to play in a USGA Championship.

This time, however, the event is the biggest in women’s golf: the 2016 U.S. Women’s Open.

In rain, wind and 40-degree temperatures, the reigning CWGA Player of the Year shot a 5-over-par 149 to win the Sectional Qualifier at Westminster’s Heritage Golf Course at Westmoor. She was two shots better than 16-year-old Yu-Sang Hou of Taiwan, who will also be playing in the national championship July 7-10 at CordeValle in San Martin, Calif.

Kupcho’s 72 in the second round represented the only score of par or better in the two-round qualifier. The inclement weather prompted WDs from 17 players.

It will mark her first U.S. Women’s Open. Last year she advanced to the round of 16 at last year’s U.S. Women’s Amateur.

Another collegian with Colorado ties, Hannah Wood of Highlands Ranch, also qualified on Monday.

Wood, a sophomore at the University of Oklahoma and the 2014 CWGA Stroke Play champion, shot a 1-over-par 74-69-143 in the 36-hole qualifier at Shady Oaks Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas.

She finished one stroke behind medalist Su-Hyun Oh and then won a three-person playoff to qualify for her first U.S. Women’s Open.

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