Wake Forest University
NCAA Championship
Kupcho Finishes Runner-Up at NCAA Championship
5/22/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
By Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeWGolf)
SUGAR GROVE, Ill -- Wake Forest sophomore Jennifer Kupcho finished as runner-up at the 2017 NCAA Women's Golf Championship. Kupcho concluded the event at 2-over par after a final round 74 at Rich Harvest Farms to post the best finish at the NCAA Championship in program history.
Monica Vaughn of Arizona State won the title at 1-over par, one shot ahead of Kupcho and Duke's Leona Maguire. The runner-up finish was Kupcho's eighth top-five finish of the season, tying the school record set by Stephanie Neill in 1994-95. A year after finishing T-6th at the NCAA Championship as a freshman, Kupcho joins Neill as the only Demon Deacons to have a pair of top-10 finishes at the event.
Kupcho played the front nine in 2-under and held a four shot lead after a par on No. 13. After a bogey on No. 14, she was at 1-under and had a two-shot edge as she reached No. 17. On that hole, her approach shot found the water and her triple bogey put her at 2-over, one shot behind Vaughn. Kupcho saved par on No. 18 after a wayward tee shot to finish her round of 74.
"Jennifer is such a strong and consistent player and has played so well all year," said head coach Dianne Dailey. "She came into this tournament with 12 consecutive rounds under par and was super here. Unfortunately she had the one bad hole. She played the best she could and I am proud of her. It is great to have a player like her be a part of the Demon Deacon tradition."
Kupcho entered the final round with a one-shot lead, having shot a first round 74 and a second round 70. Her runner-up finish is the best finish by a Demon Deacon at the NCAA Championship, eclipsing Marta Prieto's third-place finish in 2000.
Kupcho concluded her sophomore season with three victories, three runner-up finishes and a top-10 finish in all but one tournament. Her scoring average of 70.61 sets a school record, breaking the previous mark of 73.09 set by Sierra Sims two seasons ago.
Players Mentioned
