Three years ago on this weekend, Jennifer Kupcho wowed the world with her performance in winning the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
In 2022, on the same spot on the calendar but in an entirely different environment, Kupcho claimed her first LPGA title and more importantly, her first major championship at the Chevron Championship.
Kupcho’s Saturday 64 got her to 16 under and staked her to a six-shot lead heading into the final round on the Dinah Shore Tournament Course at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California.
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Winning is never easy but Kupcho, the 2018 NCAA Women’s Division I champion, had it on cruise control over the last 18 holes, building her lead to seven shots at one point. She shot a final-round 74 to finish 14 under to win by two shots.
Jennifer Kupcho plays her shot from the first tee during the final round of the 2022 Chevron Championship at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California. (Photo: David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports)
Kupcho at one point had her sights on the tournament’s 72-hole scoring mark of 19 under set by Dottie Pepper in 1999. Kupcho got it to 17 under with a birdie on No. 11, but back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 13 and 14 essentially kept Pepper’s record intact.
On the 15h hole, Kupcho basically put the tournament on ice, stuffing her approach to about a foot, setting up a birdie to make the lead four shots once again.
Back on track
@jenniferkupcho knocks one close on the 15th.
Watch the @Chevron_Golf now on @GolfChannel! pic.twitter.com/TV0ftJkSwo
— LPGA (@LPGA) April 4, 2022
Jessica Korda was the closest pursuer Sunday She fired a final-round 69 but never could get any closer than two shots. Korda settled for solo second at 12 under.
Pia Babnik and Hinako Shibuno tied for the best rounds of the day with 6-under 66s. The tournament’s defending champion, Patty Tavatanakit, who also won her first LPGA event and first major in this event one year ago, started the day at 10 under, six shots back, but managed just a 72 Sunday to finish tied for fourth.
Sunday was the LPGA’s 51st playing of this championship. The event moves next year to a spot later in the year on the calendar as well as to a different golf course. The front runner, Golfweek has learned, is The Clubs at Houston Oaks, a private golf course in Texas.