Wake Forest’s Jennifer Kupcho, Arizona’s Bianca Pagdanganan Earn Exemptions to Marathon Classic

Event Presented by Owens Corning and O-I, July 12-15

(STLLWATER, Okla.) – Wake Forest junior Jennifer Kupcho and Arizona junior Bianca Pagdanganan received exemptions to the LPGA Tour’s Marathon Classic presented by Owens Corning and O-I in July as a result of their performances at the 2018 NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championships last week at Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater, Okla.

Kupcho, who finished T2 at the 2017 NCAA Women’s Golf Championships, became Wake Forest’s first individual national champion in women’s golf after winning the 2018 individual championship at 8-under par. After matching the course record with a 7-under 65 in her opening round, Kupcho turned in a 1-under 71 during the final round to claim the championship by two strokes over Pagdanganan. Kupcho became the first player to win an individual title the year after a runner-up finish since Arizona’s Susan Slaughter in 1989-90.

“I have been working so hard for this year and I have a great team behind me, so it is great to bring the championship back to Wake,” said Kupcho following her victory. “It is so fun to have my teammates here, and to win this on my parents’ anniversary is even better.

The second exemption to the Marathon Classic was given to a member of the winning national championship team as decided by the head coach. During Monday’s final round at the individual stroke play championship, Pagdanganan made a 30-foot eagle putt on the 18th hole to force a playoff with Baylor for the eighth and final spot to advance to team match play, with Arizona won. In the team match play competition, Arizona defeated top-seeded UCLA, 2015 NCAA national champions Stanford and top-ranked Alabama to win their third women’s golf team national championship.

Following their victory, Arizona women’s head coach Laura Ianello announced on Golf Central that Pagdanganan would receive the second Marathon Classic exemption.

“Bianca deserves that exemption. Her eagle putt is what started all of this,” said Ianello.

“I’m so excited, so blessed and honored,” said Pagdanganan. I’m so speechless by what happened this week, and even more speechless now.”

The 2018 Marathon Classic presented by Owens Corning and O-I will take place Thursday-Sunday, July 12-15 at Highland Meadows Golf Club in Sylvania, Ohio. Golf Channel will air all four rounds of coverage.

Golf Channel’s NCAA golf coverage continues this week with the NCAA Men’s Golf Championships from Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater, Okla. Live coverage airs today from 4-8 p.m. ET with the final round of the individual stroke play championship and to track the eight teams advancing to team match play on Tuesday. Live coverage of the team match play championship will air Tuesday and Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. ET.