Augusta National Golf Club gave Jennifer Kupcho a big bite on her derriere Saturday afternoon when she missed what looked to be a two-foot putt for par at the 10th hole.
That short miss put her two shots behind bomber Maria Fassi from the University of Arkansas.
But that legend that is Augusta National’s back nine was sitting there, perhaps warming up for this week when the big boys show up. It was sitting there to determine which of the two stellar college players would win the first annual Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
By now anyone who loves this game and loves The Masters knows that final nine like the back of their hand. Sure, stuff can happen at 10, but that’s not where the drama happens and that held true again in this event that had boiled down to a two-woman contest between Kupcho, the Wake Forest star and her good friend Fassi. Friendship aside, this one was a fight.
Fassi kept that two-shot lead until the par five 13th, a hole made for the dramatic and Kupcho delivered. With Fassi out of position right of the fairway in the pine straw, Kupcho launched what turned out to be a classic hybrid that hit and stopped just seven feet from the hole. Fassi got it close enough for a good look a birdie inside 10 feet but missed then watched her pal calmly bury the eagle putt that put both players at eight-under. Fassi fought back with a splendid birdie at 14, gave it a huge fist pump, heading for 15, another hole that has been drama’s stage for decades.
Kupcho’s drive landed on the left side, she’d have to draw it around those big pines if she wanted to reach in two. Another mistake by Fassi left her once again out of position right. It was then that Kupcho delivered another perfect hybrid that left her on the fringe behind the hole, birdie pretty much guaranteed. Fassi, who birdied both front nine par fives, left 15 without one and after the birdie by Kupcho, they both stood eight under heading to 16 and it’s traditional Sunday placement.
Once again Kupcho stuck one close, put the pressure on Fassi and Fassi made the critical error of leaving her shot on the top shelf. She’d three-putt, Kupcho made her birdie putt and it was pretty much over with that two-shot swing. At 18, all Kupcho needed was two more good shots and she delivered. Fassi found the big bunker left and too close to the huge sloping face. She’d finish with bogey then watch Kupcho make another birdie to shoot 67 and her 10-under total for the 54-holes had her using the term “amazing” about 50 times after the round.
Indeed, her 67 was stunning and will be a serious mark for future ANWA events.
Quite simply Kupcho and Fassi were the two best players in the field and Augusta National identified them that way.
Both have qualified for the LPGA Tour and are deferring their membership until after the collegiate season.
Lost in the Kupcho-Fassi drama/lovefest was 17-year-old Yuka Saso from the Philippines tying for third with another Yuka — 18-year-old Yasuda from Japan.
Event more impressive was 16-year-old Californian Zoe Campos shooting 72 to finish in the red at one-under.
In the end, it turned out to be everything that Augusta Chairman Fred Ridley and his fellow members wanted when they announced this event.
Kupcho and Fassi were the perfect pairing — their friendship showed with sportsmanship throughout the day that was at times hard to fathom.
Evidently they got sucked up in the spirit and tradition that is Augusta National.
And that back nine by Kupcho made it worth the watch.
Thirty-two with a bogey at 10? Jennifer set the back nine table for someone to duplicate next Sunday.
There are a lot of guys gathering on the grounds this week that would pay big money to shoot that score on that back nine come Sunday.
4 Comments
baxter cepeda
Which is why I hope your revisiting your views on the depth of womens golf T.
And speaking of Mr Ridley, I’m at the dcp formal and as a member is kindly chatting me up, suddenly the commissioner popped up out of nowhere like some snl character.
I’m obviously on cloud nine and nervous as can be. The conversation was about the level of play at the women’s event and the distances these ladies hit it. I foolishly or not joked they are going to have to move the tees back for these ladies. He actually thought about what I said for a sec and added that it was set up pretty good. I said I was only joking.
I also got to mention how much talent I see in girls junior golf.
Bottom line is girls taking up golf are often athletes.
While men’s golf is more athletic and deeper than ever, women’s golf, as these two ladies exemplified is moving faster in those regards.
If u still don’t believe me Just ask my new boy Mr Ridley.
Tom Edrington
Baxter: It was a TWO-WOMAN contest on Sunday, what depth? Two players, if they hadn’t been there, it would have stunk! Kupcho made it worth watching and Fassi pushed Kupcho to do what she did…..two players is not my concept of depth!
baxter cepeda
Their just the 2 next ones to add to the growing list of great lpga players.
The ANA identified Ko, probably the sweetest swing for my eyes these days, as the latest now.
You identified the Yukos and Zoe at their still tender ages as three with potential to follow.
Some of the 12-13 girls that pounded it past my daughter approached 250, so I didn’t even feel bad about 8th in that category. Though that and 1 chip biting on us cost us any Chance to contend. Woulda been nice if she made that 30 footer that lipped out on the tv.
Proud she smiled.
Hope you caught it.
And keep in mind Augusta’s double dose of sublime grow the game initiatives for girls and women are only in their 6th and first seasons respectively.
Give that some time.
The amateur ladies, with a little help from Augusta National, had 10k people watching them, and could easily be 30k. DCP gets larger galleries than some pga tour events. This is getting people attention as we speak.
I want to use this forum to thank Augusta National, the pga, usga, and most of all The people who work at all 4 levels of dcp.
They all do a truly amazing job to make so many dreams happen.
Tom Edrington
Ditto that, Baxter. I only caught a bit of the DCP, was church early, walking the dog, some outside stuff, detail the Mustang convertible it was 2 before I was ready to sit down. It is a great event, recorded the women’s final day and replayed that before San Antonio.