Rose Zhang – with the first of what will no doubt be many trophies Image Getty / LPGA
Women’s golf have uncovered a rising superstar, the game’s hottest amateur golfer, American Rose Zhang, making an immediate and successful transition to the professional ranks by winning at her first professional start.
Zhang was playing the event on an invitation by the tournament sponsors after making the move to the paid ranks just last week. As a result of the win she now has full LPGA Tour status.
The only recently turned 20 year old, parred the second extra hole of a playoff between her and Jennifer Kupcho to take the Mizuho America’s Open title at the Liberty Golf Club on the shores of Upper New York Bay after Kupcho had gained five shots on the 54 hole leader with a final round of 69.
Two weeks ago Zhang was winning the NCAA title for the second consecutive occasion as part of the Stanford University team but that was one of many prestigious titles she won during her stellar amateur career. Zhang also won the US Amateur Championship in 2020 as a 17 year old defeating Australia’s Gabriella Ruffels in the process and in 2021 was the US Junior Girls Champion.
In April she won the Augusta National Women’s title and, as the World’s Number One female amateur, she entered the pro ranks with expectations on her to perform early in paid ranks, but that she has been able to win and to do so over a demanding golf course in tough conditions and to survive a playoff speaks volumes for her future.
Zhang wins $415,000 for her victory and she is now likely to be part of the US Solheim Cup team in France later this year.
Australia’s Minjee Lee and New Zealander Lydia Ko started the event well but struggled over the weekend and it would be NSW’s Stephanie Kyriacou who would lead the Australasians at week’s end. Kyriacou finished tied for 10th, her third round of 65 the catalyst for her best finish of the year.
Lee finished 13th and Ko 33rd after a horror weekend which she played in 6 over par.
Grace Kim was 43rd.
