Adam Starvation/AP
Rose Zhang kisses the trophy after successful the Mizuho Americas Open golf match in Jersey Metropolis on Sunday.
CNN –
Twenty-year-old {golfing} phenom Rose Zhang made her mark in historical past once more on Sunday by defeating Jennifer Kupcho in a sudden-death playoff on the Mizuho Americas Open, changing into the primary participant to make her skilled debut in 1972 an LPGA match gained years.
After hitting a six-under 66 on Saturday, Zhang went into the finals at Liberty Nationwide Golf Membership in New Jersey with a two-shot lead over Atthaya Thitikul, Aditi Ashok and Cheyenne Knight.
However Sunday’s closing spherical was a rollercoaster journey for the two-time NCAA girls’s golf nationwide champion.
Zhang had an opportunity to take a two-shot lead on the sixteenth gap, however missed a straightforward birdie putt, giving him a slight benefit over Kupcho. Zhang narrowly averted dropping a shot on the seventeenth gap and made it to the troublesome 18th gap with an important 10-foot par save.
With victory in sight, Zhang missed a putt that might have introduced the win, sending the match right into a sudden loss of life playoff with Kupcho. Each golfers managed to get well from dangerous pictures on the primary playoff gap and posted par saves. On the second playoff gap, Kupcho’s three-putt opened the door for Zhang, who sealed her historic win with a par.
She completed the final spherical with a 2 over par 74 and a 9 beneath par within the match.
Zhang, who turned professional on Might 26 after a historic profession at Stanford, is the second participant ever and the primary since Beverley Hanson in 1951 to win an LPGA match in her professional debut.
“What’s happening? I simply can’t consider it. It was simply final week once I gained the NCAAs with my teammates and it was simply superior to show professional and are available right here. I’ve loved the journey,” he stated Zhang on the Golf Channel, “I had so many cheers throughout me from all my family and friends. I’m simply so grateful.”
In a protracted record of accomplishments, the 20-year-old additionally grew to become the first-ever to win the NCAA singles nationwide title and an LPGA Tour win in the identical season.
Wealthy Graessle/Icon Sportswire/AP
Rose Zhang on the primary tee throughout Sunday’s LPGA Mizuho Americas Open finals.
In Might, Zhang capped off her collegiate profession at Stanford by defending her NCAA nationwide championship title, changing into the primary golfer in historical past to win back-to-back particular person nationwide titles.
By successful at Grayhawk Golf Membership in Scottsdale, Arizona, Zhang tied for essentially the most wins of her NCAA profession at 12 with Lorena Ochoa and surpassed 4 others, together with Stanford alumnus and 15-time main champion Tiger Woods.
After her first LPGA Tour win, Woods congratulated Zhang on Twitter, saying, “Unbelievable weeks for Rose Zhang, she defends her NCAA title after which wins in her professional debut. Go Card!” Stanford’s sports activities groups are as Cardinal identified.
As for what’s subsequent for the budding star, she should first concentrate on finishing her semester at Stanford, telling reporters her ideas are on closing exams.
“It positively issues me. I do not know what I’m going to do with it. I’ve an essay to put in writing, PSAT for CS due. We’ll discover out. I’m additionally transferring on the thirteenth so I’ve a busy week forward and it has nothing to do with golf,” she stated.
Regardless of the busy college schedule, followers can count on to see much more of her on the LPGA Tour, in keeping with Zhang.
“I’m tremendous excited,” she stated through the press convention. “You’ll be seeing me on the LPGA Tour extra typically as I’m a member beginning now and will probably be taking part in in 2023.”