Rose Zhang defeated Jennifer Kupcho on the second gap of a playoff to punctuate a historic week, successful in her LPGA debut on the inaugural Mizuho Americas Open on Sunday in Jersey City, N.J.
Zhang and Kupcho had been tied atop the leaderboard at 9-under 279 and twice replayed the par-4 18th gap atLiberty National Golf Course. Zhang’s par the second time by means of was sufficient to finest Kupcho.
With the win, Zhang will obtain full membership on the LPGA Tour, capping her meteoric rise from the novice ranks to the skilled circuit.
The 20-year-old from Stanford gained the Augusta National Women’s Amateur in April and her second straight NCAA particular person title in May. She held the No. 1 spot within the World Amateur Golf Ranking for a document 141 weeks.
Zhang turned professional on May 26, obtained a sponsor’s invite into the Mizuho Americas Open and have become the primary participant since 1951 to win in her LPGA debut.
“What is happening? I just can’t believe it,” Zhang stated on the Golf Channel broadcast. “… To turn pro and come out here (and win) it’s just been amazing. I’ve enjoyed the journey.”
Zhang entered Sunday with a two-shot lead and shot a 2-over 74 with two bogeys and no birdies on a day the place there have been few low scores wherever at Liberty National, which was internet hosting an LPGA occasion for the primary time.
Kupcho acquired within the clubhouse at 9 below with a spherical of 69, however Zhang, after a bogey at No. 4, held onto the lead at 10 below with 13 consecutive pars. At the par-4 seventeenth, she blew her uphill birdie putt 10 toes previous the opening earlier than calmly making the comebacker.
But on the par-4 18th, her drive trickled off the golf green right into a bunker. She punched it out towards the inexperienced and arrange a par look, however the putt leaked proper of the cup on the final second.
Both gamers missed the golf green and scrambled for par on the primary playoff gap. Zhang’s strategy on the second playoff gap landed in a makeable birdie vary.
Faced with an extended uphill putt, Kupcho thumped her birdie attempt previous the opening and off the inexperienced. She missed the comebacker for par, and Zhang two-putted for the victory.
“This golf course is rough,” Zhang stated. “I actually acquired a little bit of every part, acquired a style of the strain, acquired a style of the wind and I attempted to remain composed as all the time. I knew that golf was only a grind and you actually needed to dig deep.
“Once again, that’s what I did. I’m glad I’m here.”
Kupcho dunked a hole-out eagle on the par-4 seventh to go along with three birdies and two bogeys throughout her spherical. At the tip of the playoff, she congratulated Zhang after playfully squirting her water bottle at her.
Hae Ran Ryu of South Korea shot a 70 to position third at 8 below. Ayaka Furue of Japan (69 on Sunday), Eun-Hee Ji of South Korea (71) and Aditi Ashok of India (74) tied for fourth at 7 below.
Ashleigh Buhai of South Africa fired an 8-under 64 for the spherical of the day by a large margin. That acquired her to six below and right into a tie for seventh with Ireland’s Leona Maguire (67) and Japan’s Yuka Saso (70).
–Field Level Media