Returning Champion Jennifer Kupcho Ready for Another Run at Seaview
By Leo West
GALLOWAY, N.J. - Defending ShopRite LPGA powered by Wakefern champion Jennifer Kupcho returns to Seaview, in Galloway N.J. this week looking to become the tournament’s first repeat winner in a decade.
Kupcho defeated Ilhee Lee by one stroke last year and enters this tournament playing some of her best golf of the 2026 season.
The Colorado native finds herself currently No. 24 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings. Two weeks ago on the LPGA Tour, Kupcho finished eighth at -5, tied with No. 1 player Nelly Korda and No. 10 player Lydia Ko, including a final round where Kupcho shot a 67, giving her plenty of momentum as she prepares to defend her title.
Even with stiff competition set to tee off this weekend including three top-25 players – No. 7 Charley Hull, No. 18 Aki Iwai and, No. 20 Chizzy Iwai – Kupcho feels at home on the Bay Course.
“I feel like there are not really any tricked-out holes,” said Kupcho. “It's all very straightforward. The holes are pretty arrow straight. Kind of just hit it and then hit it onto the green.”
Kupcho started her pro career by making the cut in 2019 at Seaview. One year later, she finished second, just missing out on the win by two strokes. Since her debut, Kupcho has learned a lot about herself, the tour, and - most importantly for this weekend - the course.
“I think when I showed up here my rookie year, I was like, wow, par-5s are really gettable; golf course is really gettable. You kind of just go for it and hope the putts fall, and that's really what I did last year,’ Kupcho said.
The start to 2026 was not easy for Kupcho. The 29-year-old’s best finish through the first six tournaments of the season was a tie for 27th at the Aramco Championship.
“I start out slow from the offseason. I would say compared to most girls, like I take a lot of time off”, Kupcho said. “I put my clubs away this year for an entire month during December and January. Most girls don't do that, so I know I'm going to start out rough beginning of the year, and kind of around April’s end – beginning of May, I start to come out.”
But since the JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro, Kupcho has finished T-13, T-12, and T-12, as well as her eighth-place finish last week. Kupcho is beginning to find her swing at the right time.
This tournament is about more than searching for her first LPGA win of the season. It’s incredibly important for Kupcho with the Solheim Cup looming later this year. A three-time Solheim Cup participant, Kupcho, is using this weekend as an opportunity to get herself back in contention for Team USA.
As much as making the Solheim Cup team is a challenge, Kupcho understands she can’t make things too challenging for herself at the ShopRite LPGA powered by Wakefern.
“I think one big thing I've worked on this year is going out and having fun, not necessarily worrying about the outcome or what it could mean,” said Kupcho. “I think if you get too far ahead of yourself you kind of start to put way too much pressure. So, yeah, just go out and have fun, do the best I can.”
