Rose Zhang became the first player to win on their pro LPGA Tour debut in 72 years, capturing the Mizuho Americas Open on the second hole of a playoff against Jennifer Kupcho on Sunday.
The last female player to win as a pro in her debut was Beverly Hanson, who edged Babe Zaharias to take the Eastern Open in 1951.
“What is happening? I just can’t believe it,” she said in a TV interview after her victory. “It was just last week that I won NCAAs with my [college] teammates, and to turn pro and come out here, it’s just been amazing.”
Zhang shot a two-over 74 in the final round and squandered a chance to win the event on the 72nd when she missed an eight-foot par saver after making at least a half dozen clutch saves in a gritty final round performance.
The much-heralded 20-year-old, who played college golf at Stanford where she was a two-time NCAA national champion, made a nearly identical eight-footer on No 18 at Liberty National on the first playoff hole. Kupcho also made a par. Both players hit the fairway on No 18 on the second playoff hole, but Zhang hit her approach from the fairway within 10 feet. Kupcho was short on her approach, her first putt went just over the back edge of the green and her second putt just missed. That left Zhang with a two-putt par to win.
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Incredible few weeks for Rose Zhang, defends her NCAA title and then wins in her Pro debut. Go card!
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) June 5, 2023
Tiger Woods, who also played golf at Stanford, hailed Zhang’s victory on Twitter.
“Incredible few weeks for Rose Zhang, defends her NCAA title and then wins in her Pro debut,” he wrote.
Zhang held her face in disbelief after the winning putt fell and was then mobbed and presented with bouquets of roses.
Zhang, who is seen as the most-hyped player to join the tour since Michelle Wie in 2009, did not have a birdie in her final round and finished at a nine-under 279 on the course with the New York City skyline as a backdrop.
Zhang turned pro last week after the end of her college career, and much was expected of her right away. She was the top-ranked women’s amateur for 141 weeks and won every big women’s amateur event: the US Women’s Amateur, the US Junior Girls, the NCAAs and the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
The victory was worth $412,500 and it also earned Zhang an automatic LPGA Tour membership.