Maria Fassi, Jennifer Kupcho to make pro debuts in same group at U.S. Women’s Open

Maria Fassi and Jennifer Kupcho made a splash at last month’s Augusta National Women’s Am, when the two dueled down the back nine of the inaugural event. It’s only fitting that the two will make their pro debuts together, too.

Fassi and Kupcho just wrapped up their collegiate careers and are turning pro at next week’s U.S. Women’s Open at the Country Club of Charleston in South Carolina. The tournament announced several featured groups on Thursday, including a talented trio in the 8:28 tee time: Fassi, Kupcho and University of Florida star Sierra Brooks.

🚨 PAIRINGS SNEAK PEEK 🚨

Here are some of the groups we'll be keeping our eye on next week at the #USWomensOpen.

Full tee times will be released Saturday! pic.twitter.com/h0yvdVIcnK

— U.S. Women's Open (@uswomensopen) May 23, 2019

Fassi won last week’s NCAA individual crown at her home course in Arkansas. Her team then took on Kupcho’s Wake Forest squad in the first round of match play; Kupcho won the clinching point for the Demon Deacons.

Wake Forest went on to challenge for the team title but lost in a nail-biter to Duke. Kupcho, the 2018 NCAA Champion and No. 1 amateur in the world, lost her final match — but she’ll have a quick turnaround before her pro debut.

Brooks, who just finished her junior year at Florida, finished runner-up to Fassi for the NCAA individual title at four under par, four shots off the win. She will remain an amateur after her U.S. Open appearance.

The USGA also released two other groups. Defending champion Ariya Jutanugarn tees it up alongside world No. 3 Sung Hyun Park and world No. 7 Lexi Thompson at 8:06 a.m. on Thursday.

Emma Talley, who won the 2013 U.S. Women’s Amateur at the Country Club of Charleston, will tee off in the first group on Thursday. Mariah Stackhouse and Ally McDonald will join her at 7 a.m.

Michelle Wie announced on Friday morning that she won’t be playing in the U.S. Women’s Open due to ongoing injury recovery.