(Tom Robinson/CHSAANow.com)
COLORADO SPRINGS — Near state championship misses are something Jennifer Kupcho knows well.
The Jefferson Academy junior finished third at state as a freshman and was second a year ago.
On Monday, the junior made a statement in the first round of the Class 4A state tournament to try and eliminate any heartbreaking drama this year.
Kupcho fired an even-par 72 at the Country Club of Colorado course to take a commanding nine-stroke lead over her teammate Mariah Ehrman and Valor Christian’s Andrea Ballou.
“I had a good round,” said Kupcho, who had only two bogeys. “I struggled with my putting at the beginning, but I was hitting the ball very well. The greens were kind of slow and bumpy, but the rest of the course was really nice.”
The final round concludes Tuesday at the challenging Country Club of Colorado course.
Jefferson Academy’s Jennifer Kupcho. (Tracy Renck)
A year ago, Kupcho was runner-up to Montrose’s Kala Keltz by two strokes. Her freshman season she was one stroke back of Pueblo South’s Bryce Schroeder and Kathleen Kershisnik of Regis. Schroeder won state in a playoff.
“I’ve been really close to winning before and (Monday) I just went out there and played like I know how to play and I didn’t worry about anything else,” said the 5-foot-4 Kupcho, who has a career-best round of 67. “That worked out pretty well and I want to do the same thing (Tuesday).”
In team race, Montrose leads with a 267, followed by Cheyenne Mountain (270), Valor Christian (271) and Estes Park (272). Cheyenne Mountain is the defending state champion.
Although only a junior, Kupcho has already relieved herself of the stress of deciding on where to continue playing golf in college.
“I have verbally committed to Wake Forest,” said Kupcho, who is likely going to major in business. “The weather is really nice there (in Winston-Salem N.C.) and I really liked the coaches. They have a really good golf program.”