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The USGA HANDICAP SYSTEM IN NJ Closes 11/15/25 

Jennifer Kupcho Wins ShopRite LPGA Classic with Clutch Birdie Finish

By Sean Fawcett and Will Prata (edit by ChatGBT)

Another year, another Major Champion triumphs at the ShopRite LPGA Classic. Rising LPGA Tour star Jennifer Kupcho captured her fourth career victory—and first since 2022—with a calm, clutch birdie on the 479-yard 18th hole at Seaview’s historic Bay Course on Sunday.

Kupcho’s birdie-par-birdie finish sealed the win at 15-under par (68-64-66), edging South Korea’s Ilhee Lee by a single stroke. Kupcho rolled in seven birdies in her final round, including the decisive six-footer at 18, after a pinpoint chip left her with the go-ahead putt.

Lee, who held a one-stroke lead (-11 to -10) entering the final round, surged late with back-to-back birdies on holes 17 and 18 to tie Kupcho at -14—briefly. Kupcho then responded with a nerveless up-and-down and closing birdie to reclaim the lead and clinch victory.

Coming off a missed cut at last week’s U.S. Women’s Open, the 28-year-old from Colorado bounced back with poise, capping her week with a 5-under 66 on Sunday.

“I really wasn’t thinking about anybody else,” said Kupcho. “I had my mind set on 14-under. Obviously, I did a little better, but I just stayed in my zone the whole time. This feels really nice.”

Kupcho, a former NCAA champion at Wake Forest University, becomes the third American to win on the LPGA Tour in 2025, joining Yealimi Noh (Founders Cup) and Angel Yin (Honda LPGA Thailand). She’s also the 16th different American to win the ShopRite LPGA Classic in its 37-year history, and the first since Lexi Thompson in 2019.

Top Finishers:

  • Sei Young Kim (KOR) finished solo third at -12, highlighted by a hole-in-one on the 79-yard par-3 17th.

  • Ayaka Furue (JPN): -11 (66-66-70)

  • Aline Krauter (GER): T-5 at -10

  • Nelly Korda, current World No. 1, finished T-9 at -8

  • Jeeno Thitikul: -9

  • Maja Stark, reigning U.S. Women’s Open champion: finish not specified

Kupcho takes home $262,500 for the win, bringing her career earnings to over $5.5 million.

Past Champions' Results:

  • Brooke Henderson (2022): -7 (T20)

  • Ashleigh Buhai (2023): -4 (T38)

  • Stacy Lewis (2012, 2014): Even (T63)

  • Brittany Lincicome (2011): MC

  • Linnea Strom (2024): MC

  • Annie Park (2018): MC

The ShopRite LPGA Classic, contested at the Bay Course at Seaview Golf Club—a Donald Ross and Hugh Wilson design and the site of Sam Snead’s 1942 PGA Championship win—has now been held at Seaview 31 times in its storied 37-year history.

 

RECENT CHANGES TO THE WORLD HANDICAP SYSTEM - By Marian Castner

The USGA and The R&A today announced the first update to the World Handicap System™ (WHS™) as part of an ongoing review of the Rules of Handicapping™ and Course Rating System™ with a continued emphasis on accuracy, consistency and equity. The latest revisions will go into effect beginning January 1, 2024.

Many countries have seen significant increases in the number of scores being submitted for handicapping purposes since the WHS was introduced in January 2020, reflecting golf’s broadening appeal. More than 100 million scores have been posted each year, unifying millions of golfers through a standard measure of playing ability. The 2024 update leverages the performance data gathered from around the world, in addition to feedback received from many of the 125 countries now using the system.

Significant updates to the WHS include:

  • Inclusion of Shorter-Length Golf Courses Within the Course Rating System: The overall length requirements for Course Rating in the WHS will be significantly reduced. A set of tees on an 18-hole course may be as short as 1,500 yards [1,370 meters] to be eligible for a Course Rating and Slope Rating®, and a set of tees on a 9-hole course may be as short as 750 yards [685 meters]. This change is intended to expand the WHS to thousands of shorter length courses, including par-3 courses, and enable more golfers to obtain and use a Handicap Index.
  • Use of an Expected Score for a Hole Not Played: Improvements have been made to the method used to handle holes not played, which will now be based on a player’s expected score rather than a score of net par. This new method will produce a 9-hole or 18-hole Score Differential that more accurately reflects a player’s ability. As golfers across the world are playing more 9-hole rounds, an expected score can also be used to convert a 9-hole round into an 18-hole Score Differential. For some countries, this means that 9-hole scores will be considered in the calculation of a player’s Handicap Index immediately after the day of play, rather than waiting to combine with another 9-hole score.
  • Playing Conditions Calculation Adjustments Made More Frequent: The Playing Conditions Calculation (PCC) has been modified to increase the likelihood of an adjustment for abnormal playing conditions. National associations were given discretion, beginning in July 2022, to introduce this revision within their computation platforms, which will be complete by April 1, 2024.
  • Enhanced Guidance on Conducting a Handicap Review: The role of the Handicap Committee is vital to the success of the WHS and the Rules recommend that a Handicap Review is conducted regularly, or at least once a year to ensure a Handicap Index® remains reflective of a player’s ability. New reporting tools have been developed that national associations can incorporate into their handicapping software to assist Committees in conducting the review process effectively and consistently.

Since its inception, the WHS has embraced the many ways golf is played around the world by giving national associations flexibility to apply regional discretionary items, with the objective for greater alignment over time. For this reason, the governing bodies expect countries to continue to shift the way they calculate Course Handicaps so that they are relative to par, making a golfer’s target score to “play to handicap” more intuitive.

Golfers are encouraged to visit their national association’s website to learn more about the discretionary items that apply to their region. 

If you want to send us an update about your course, email margolf14@gmail.com and we will continuously update this page.