No. 1-ranked Kupcho at players' dinner head table

Jennifer Kupcho was in for a surprise when she and her family arrived at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur players dinner on Tuesday night at Augusta National.

The No. 1-ranked amateur in the country was seated at the head table, which included Augusta National and Masters Tournament Chairman Fred Ridley and Diana Murphy, the president of the U.S. Golf Association.

“They gave you cards back at the hotel and Jennifer’s asking everybody ‘table 3?’ and nobody had table 3,” said Jennifer’s father Mike Kupcho. “When we got there, the players were taking pictures with the chairman out back and we walk in there with some other parents and I realize ‘my God, we’re at the head table.’ I wasn’t nervous eating with the chairman. I was wondering if my daughter was.”

“That was pretty cool to get to sit with them.” said Jennifer Kupcho, who went out and shot 4-under-par 68 on Wednesday at Champions Retreat Golf Club to share the first-round lead. “They are really nice people and it was great to get to visit with them and kind of see their thoughts on Augusta and this course, as well.”

The conversation with Ridley included the fact that Kupcho’s fellow Colorado resident Hale Irwin, a former Masters participant and two-time U.S. Open champion, had given her some tips on how to play Augusta National Golf Club.

“So he kind of talked a little bit about him,” she said.

Kupcho said dinners like the one Tuesday require “a lot of social skills. I’m definitely an introvert, so I’m going to have to become more out and just be able to talk to whoever comes up to me and carry on a conversation with them.”

In addition to a tour of the clubhouse, the players were allowed to shop at the merchandise center, which she called “super cool."

“It’s like a mall,” she said. “It’s crazy. So I was like, ‘wow.”

QUICK TURNAROUND: The idea of being invited to the Augusta National Women’s Amateur had “totally passed” Kaylee Benton’s mind after she wasn’t on the invitation list that came out in January.

Then the University of Arkansas senior got a voicemail from Augusta National Golf Club last week. She called back and found out she was in, taking the place of injured Lucy Li.

“I’m almost kind of in shock I’m here,” Benton said after shooting 6-over-par 78 in Wednesday’s first round. “I just got in on (last) Thursday. Just being here is a blessing.”

Her 78, which included a double bogey 7 on the 18th hole, dropped her into a tie for 51st place. The top 30 after Thursday’s second round will play the final round on Saturday at Augusta National Golf Club. She’s four shots out of a tie for 30th place.

“I wouldn’t count myself out of it,” Benton said of cracking the top 30. “I definitely have a lot of work to do. I’m really looking forward to having the opportunity to potentially compete on Saturday. I can’t wait to play it on Friday.”

She was referring to the fact the entire field – not just the 30 qualifiers for the final round – will play a practice round on Friday at Augusta National.

“I came into the week knowing no matter what I’m playing Augusta National,” she said. “That was really cool. It took a little pressure off because my aim is to compete there on Saturday.”

She has already seen Augusta National and taken a tour of the clubhouse area. That happened on Tuesday night when the field was a guest of the club and chairman Fred Ridley. One of the spots in the clubhouse Benton got to visit was the Champions Locker Room.

“It was so much fun,” she said. “I was on Cloud Nine getting to go to the clubhouse. I touched Tiger Woods’ locker and it made my life.”