Denver’s Erin Houtsma makes Sweet 16 at U.S. Women’s Mid-Am for 2nd time, but falls to standout Emilia (Migliaccio) Doran; former CGA Player of the Year Steven Kupcho qualifies for 2027 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball
By Gary Baines – 9/1/2026
Before Tuesday’s action even began, Erin Houtsma of Denver already was the oldest remaining competitor at the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur — at age 46. By the time she advanced to the match-play round of 16, she was the only 40-something (or older) left in contention.
But, although she put up a good fight, winning her Sweet 16 match proved a bridge too far for the Denver teacher and former University of Colorado golfer.
Emilia (Migliaccio) Doran — the stroke-play co-medalist, NBC/Golf Channel on-course reporter, two-time Curtis Cupper and 2021 Augusta National Women’s Amateur runner-up — defeated Houtsma 3 and 1 on Tuesday afternoon at Montclair Golf Club in West Orange, N.J.
It marked Houtsma’s second round-of-16 appearance at the U.S. Women’s Mid-Am — which is limited to players 25 and older — as she also made it that far in 2019.
Doran, currently No. 140 in the women’s World Amateur Golf Rankings, won the first hole with a bogey and the sixth with a birdie to go 2 up. And though Houtsma narrowed her deficit to 1 down on a couple of occasions in the middle of the round, she could never catch Doran, who closed things out with a winning birdie on No. 17.
Houtsma, winner of the 2005 Colorado Women’s Open and three CGA Women’s Mid-Amateurs, played the 17holes of the match in4 over par. Doran countered with an impressive 2 under.
Doran, a former teammate of Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Jennifer Kupcho at Wake Forest, has advanced to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Women’s Mid-Am in each of her first two years competing in the event.
Earlier in the day, Houtsma advanced from the round of 32 with a 3-and-2 victory over 15th-seeded Hana Ku of New York City, who made the 2025 Forbes 30 under 30 list in the areas of Transportation & Mobility.
Houtsma won the first two holes, was 5 up after eight holes and never trailed in the round of 32. The Coloradan went 5 over par for the 16 holes of the match, while Ku was 9 over.
Meanwhile, Kirsty Hodgkins-Redner of Lafayette — like Houtsma a former CU golfer — saw her run at the U.S. Women’s Am end in the round of 32 for the second straight year. This time, fifth-seeded Talia Campbell of New York City drubbed Hodgkins-Redner 7 and 6. Campbell won the first six holes and never let up.
Hodgkins-Redner, winner of the 2020 CGA Women’s Match Play and the 2025 CGA Women’s Mid-Amateur, went 8 over par for the 12 holes of the match, while Campbell was 1 under.
U.S. WOMEN’S MID-AMATEUR RESULTS FOR COLORADANS
Montclair Golf Club in West Orange, N.J.
MATCH PLAY ROUND OF 16 TUESDAY
Emilia (Migliaccio) Doran, Charlotte, N.C. def. Erin Houtsma, Denver, 3 and 1
MATCH PLAY ROUND OF 32 TUESDAY
Erin Houtsma, Denver, def. Hana Ku, New York City, 3 and 2
Talia Campbell, New York City, def. Kirsty Hodgkins-Redner, Lafayette, 7 and 6
MATCH PLAY ROUND OF 64 MONDAY
Kirsty Hodgkins-Redner, Lafayette, def. Erica Whitehouse, Mechanicsville, Va., 19 holes
Erin Houtsma, Denver, def. Mary Janiga Kartes, Grand Rapids, Mich., 1 up
STROKE PLAY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
Advance to Match Play
21. Kirsty Hodgkins-Redner, Lafayette 72-76—148
40. Erin Houtsma, Denver 79-72–151
Failed to Advance to Match Play
Molly Dorans, Firestone 83-83—166
U.S. SENIOR AMATEUR RESULTS FOR COLORADANS
Baltimore Country Club in Lutherville, Md.
Failed to Advance to Match Play
Ed Kerr, Windsor 76-75—151 (Didn’t earn one of the last 3 match-play spots, going par, then bogey, in a 13-for-3 playoff)
David Johnson, Berthoud 75-77—152
Owen Ellis, Boulder 83-82–165
Steven Kupcho (left) and teammate Richard Hearden after qualifying for the 2027 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Monday in Wisconsin.
Steven Kupcho Teaming Up for 2027 U.S. Four-Ball: Steven Kupcho was a standout amateur in Colorado, but in recent years he’s been busy starting a business career and a family. This week, he demonstrated he still has plenty of golf game.
The 2012 CGA Player of the Year and former University of Northern Colorado golfer teamed with former Illinois State player Richard Hearden of Phoenix to qualify in Wisconsin for the 2027 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship.
Kupcho, older brother of four-time winner on the LPGA Tour Jennifer Kupcho, and Hearden shot a 7-under-par 65 best-ball on Monday to earn the second and final national berth out of a field of 52 teams in Oregon, Wis. Steven Kupcho, a Phoenix resident nowadays, and Hearden prevailed in a three-team playoff to secure that final spot. In regulation, they carded eight birdies and a bogey.
The 2027 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball is scheduled for May 22-27 at Erin Hills in Erin, Wis.
For the Four-Ball qualifying scores, CLICK HERE.
Colorado Golf Journal 