Jennifer Kupcho and Maria Fassi gained worldwide notoriety for their spirited and classy duel in the final round of the inaugural Augusta National Women's Amateur. Now newly minted pros, the pair will be teaming up in the LPGA's new team event.
Kupcho and Fassi have been awarded a sponsor exemption to compete in the inaugural Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, which takes places July 16-20 at Midland Country Club in Michigan.
The Wake Forest product Kupcho, who won at Augusta National, earned her LPGA status by finished second to Jeongeun Lee6 in the inaugural LPGA Q-Series last fall in Pinehurst, N.C. In her pro debut at the US Women's Open, Kupcho finished T-62.
“I am honored to receive this opportunity from Dow to be a part of the 2019 Dow GLBI in the Great Lakes Bay region,” said Kupcho. “I’m really looking forward to playing with Maria. We’ve competed against each other a lot over the years and it will be a fun challenge to see how we play as a team.”
Like Kupcho, Fassi earned her status at the LPGA Q-Series. After winning the SEC and NCAA Women's Division I individual title at her home course, the Blessings Golf Club near University of Arkansas, Fassi finished T-12 at the Country Club of Charleston to pocket a six-figure payday in her pro debut. She then became a back-to-back winner of The Annika Award, given to the top female collegiate golfer of the year.
“I am thankful for the opportunity to team up with Jennifer for this exciting event,” said Fassi. “Jennifer and I are friends first and competitors second. The LPGA is made up of many diverse, empowered players and I am excited to be on the same course with all of them and inspire more women to get involved in the sport.”
Kupcho and Fassi will make up one of 72 teams who will compete for the $2 million purse, with a format of alternating rounds of foursomes (alternate shot) and four-ball (best ball) competition. After 36 holes, the field will be a cut to the low 35 teams and ties. The up-and-coming pros will face off against duos like Lexi Thompson and Cristie Kerr, Minjee Lee and Jin Young Ko, Brooke Henderson and Alena Sharp, as well Lydia Ko and In Gee Chun.
