LPGA Debut: Rose Zhang’s professional career got off to the best possible start as she won her opening contest at the Mizuho Americas Open.
Zhang, who has only been employed for nine days, defeated Jennifer Kupcho in a playoff after the two players at Liberty National Golf Club matched for the lead with scores of nine under par.
After Kupcho had a final-round 69, Zhang needed to par the 18th to win in regulation, but she ran into a bunker off the tee and was unable to get up and down from short of the green.
The 20-year-old American is the only player to have earned a professional victory on the LPGA Tour since Beverly Hanson in 1951.
“What’s going on? After needing just two putts for par on the second play-off hole to defeat Kupcho,” Zhang said, “I simply can’t believe it.
“I won the NCAA championship with my teammates only last week. Coming out here and turning pro has been incredible.”
One-for-one 🏆
Rose Zhang is the first player since 1951 to win on the LPGA Tour in a professional debut 👏 pic.twitter.com/PFqSDsPoGY
— LPGA (@LPGA) June 5, 2023
🏆😁🤳#LPGAWinnerSelfie pic.twitter.com/bmqw1sLeXo
— LPGA (@LPGA) June 5, 2023
After finishing her finals at Stanford and relocating the following week, Zhang indicated that she will accept the membership on the LPGA Tour that comes with the triumph.
“I know there will be many bumps on the road, and I’m expecting numerous roadblocks,” she said. However, I believe that this is just the beginning. Really just a stepping stone.
Despite the fact that this is the player’s first victory as a professional, he added, “There will undoubtedly be many more events in the future.”
“I suppose I’ll just keep picking up the ropes.”
Zhang spent a record-breaking 141 weeks at the top of the women’s amateur rankings, shattering the previous mark of 135 weeks held by Ireland’s Leona Maguire.
Following her successful title defence at the end of May, she became the first woman to win two NCAA individual championships, surpassing Tiger Woods’ total victories at Stanford.
Additionally, Zhang triumphed both the April Augusta National Women’s Amateur and the US Women’s Amateur two years ago. She also helped the US win the Curtis Cup in 2021 and 2022 by helping them overcome Great Britain and Ireland.
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