LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-Rose Zhang had a fantastic start to her professional career when she won her opening contest in the Mizuho Americas Open.
Zhang, who only started working for money nine days ago, beat Jennifer Kupcho in a play-off after the two golfers matched at nine under par at Liberty National Golf Club.
After shooting a final-round 69, Kupcho set the clubhouse target, and Zhang needed to win in regulation by paring the 18th. However, Zhang encountered a bunker off the tee and was unable to get up and down from short of the green.
Since Beverly Hanson in 1951, the 20-year-old American is the first player to triumph on the LPGA Tour in their maiden professional outing.
“What is happening? I just can’t believe it,” said Zhang after two putts for par on the second play-off hole were enough to beat Kupcho.
“It was just last week when I won NCAAs with my teammates. To turn pro and come out here, it’s just been amazing.”
Zhang stated that after completing her exams at Stanford and moving the next week, she will accept the membership on the LPGA Tour that comes with the triumph.
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“I understand there is going to be a lot of bumps in the road and I’m expecting a lot of obstacles,” she said. “But I think this is just the start. This is just a stepping stone.
“It’s crazy that this is my first win, first professional win already, but no doubt there is going to be a lot more things happening down the road.
“I’m just going to be continuing to learn inside the ropes.”
The previous record, held by Ireland’s Leona Maguire, was 135 weeks; Zhang spent a record-breaking 141 weeks at the top of the women’s amateur rankings.
Following her successful title defense at the end of May, she became the first woman to win two NCAA individual championships, surpassing Tiger Woods’ total wins at Stanford.
In addition to winning the US Women’s Amateur in 2017 and the Augusta National Women’s Amateur in April, Zhang also supported the US in its 2021 and 2022 Curtis Cup victories against Great Britain and Ireland.