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JERSEY CITY, NJ — Just before the sun set over the New York City skyline Sunday night, golf’s next star has officially arrived.
As cheers poured down from the stands looming over Liberty National’s 18th green, Rose Zhang took her ball out of the hole and raised her hands above her mouth in disbelief. Just over a week after the Stanford wonderland announced she had turned pro, she put the finishing touches to her first professional title at the Mizuho US Open.
“I just can’t believe it,” Zhang said.
With her elimination match victory over Jennifer Cupshaw, Chang becomes the first player to win an LPGA title in her professional debut since Beverly Hanson in 1951. She will also receive a check for $412,500, instant membership on the LPGA Tour and eligibility to compete in the Solheim Cup this fall.
“I enjoyed the trip,” Zhang said. “I had so many cheers around me. All my friends and family. Just so thankful.”
She also posits that Sash is the bright young star of the women’s game, who seems to have the potential to reach heights no American player has reached in generations.
The buzz around Rose Zhang’s golf game has been building for the past several years. She won the 2020 US Women’s Amateur while still a junior, and added the US Junior title a year later. By the time she set foot on campus in Palo Alto, she had a resume that rivaled almost anyone in amateur golf.
Mosman Zhang undergraduates only grew her stature. She won 12 times while at Stanford, breaking the Cardinal record held by Tiger Woods, among others. She won a team title her freshman season and back-to-back NCAA individual titles to boot. Earlier this year, she was victorious at the Augusta National Amateur. When Zhang arrived at Liberty National earlier this week, her legend preceded her.
A sponsor call is often a headline, but when Zhang got the nod, an uproar immediately began to build. Her media commitments early in the week dictated her practice time, and no player on the field got more ink.
“I’m human, so I definitely feel that,” Zhang said Wednesday of the weight of the moment. “[But] I have a basic core that allows me to carry on and not think about other people’s expectations.”
Zhang proved that this formula worked for her in the amateur game. The question was, could she also live up to the growing hype on her professional debut?
The first 54 holes of Zhang’s professional career could not have followed a better scenario. In Mizuho’s first round—playing the course alongside the brightest talent from the US Junior Golf Association—Zhang shot a two-under par of 70. On cut-off day, she did even better, taking a 69. Always good, but Zhang had her eye on bigger prize. With a bogey-free 66 on Saturday, the 20-year-old slept on her first LPGA 54-hole lead.
“I think it’s great to be in [this] She said. “It just goes to show that before the last three days you were doing a great job putting your best foot forward on the golf course.”
When I hit the stadium on Sunday, the expectations — and the stakes — were even heavier. All that separated Chang from history were eighteen holes.
After a ferry ride to the track and a quick warm-up session, Zhang hit the first tee alongside Atthaya Thitikul and Anna Davis. Michelle Wei West — host of the tournament — walked in to extend Zhang’s wishes of all the best. “I’m so nervous for her!” Wee West said.
Zhang’s opening tee shot split the middle of the fairway.
But while the birds were in abundance early in the week, Zhang struggled to find them during the final round. With chilly winds blowing on the Hudson River (combined with diabolical pin emplacements), hitting any close approach was difficult. The cold racket didn’t help Zhang’s case, but she did play well enough to stay on top of the leaderboard.
By the time Zhang hit the 18th tee, she needed par to complete her improbable run to the title.
Although Zhang didn’t make any birdies during her final run, she kept steady as the pace car. Through 17 holes, she had only downed one shot, bogey on the fourth. But, as is often the case, ending the tournament was not so simple.
Her drive from the 18th sailed left and rolled into the fairway dugout, limiting her chances of reaching the green in regulation. After blasting to a very short distance from the mounting surface, Zhang drove a wedge to within 10 feet of the hole. One hit and her nickname was hers. The ball rolled an end at her own line, but drifted completely at the last moment, ensuring bogey and a playoff against Jennifer Copshaw.
Although disappointed, Zhang did not panic.
“I’ve done this before, especially in ANWA,” she said. “Although qualifying has never felt comfortable, it felt like it was a familiar place that I’ve been in before.”
When the duo returned to the 18th tee, the crowd around the green became agitated. They’ve been waiting all day for a chance to witness history, and now there’s a chance to spoil it.
Zhang refused to allow this to happen.
After matching pars for the first qualifying slot, Zhang and Kupcho once again returned to the tee box. Kupcho and Zhang split the pass, though Kupcho had a 60-yard lead. No matter, Zhang went up and beat 4 Hybrid to seven feet.
“One of the best shots I’ve ever had,” she said. “It was a very difficult shot with the wind pushing against me, but it went well.”
Kupcho three home runs off the green, and the coronation officially began.
When the handshakes and hugs were complete, a group of AJGA players streamed onto the green to leave Zhang. One of Zhang’s friends burst into tears as she hugged her friend.
“Oh my God, are you crying?!” Zhang said. “until I do not Cry! ”
It wasn’t long ago that Zhang’s competition was on the side of these juniors. Now, she’s beating the best pros in the world.
Chang kisses a bouquet of roses (what else?), and petals scatter across the green. Wie West Zhang embraced in a hug and placed her hands on the face of the newest star in golf.
“I am so happy for Rose,” Wee West said. “I am very proud of her.”
Client Mark Steinberg hugged his client and lifted her off her feet. Not long after, a voice came on Chang’s phone telling her it was time to take a BeReal photo, which she did as light bulbs popped out from the crowd of photographers surrounding her.
“I really got a little bit of everything,” she said of the historic Sunday. “Taste the pressure, taste the wind, and I tried to stay calm as always. I knew golf was just a grind and that you really had to dig deep. Again, that’s what I did.”
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Zhang was moved from station to station, fulfilling obligations and taking pictures. As the crowd dissipated and the collegiate summit descended into history watching, Steinberg walked off the back of the green. He can muster only one word.
“surprising.”