Rose Zhang wins first LPGA Tour event as pro golfer; Stanford star makes golfing history in playoff victory

Rose Zhang entered the final round of her first-ever NCAA Tournament event with a two-shot lead on Sunday at the Mizuho Americas Open in Jersey City, New Jersey. And she needed every single stroke as she hung on for a playoff win at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Zhang won her second-straight NCAA Championship at Stanford just two weeks ago, and now she backs it up by being the first LPGA player to win their first event as a professional since 1951. She's also to first to win in her LPGA debut since Hinako Shibuno in 2019.

The 20-year-old entered the event on a sponsor's invitation, and becomes the fourth player in LPGA history to win via that status. She is now of course a fully exempt player on the LPGA Tour.

Zhang failed to make a birdie on Sunday, but held on in a playoff with Jennifer Kupcho despite a bogey on her final hole in regulation. Both ladies made par when replaying the 18th hole for the first time, but a brilliant approach by Zhang while playing the same tee and green for the third-straight time forced a mistake on Kupcho's second shot, who ended up putting off the green and was lucky to save bogey.

Rose Zhang has just won both an NCAA title and an LPGA title in just 13 days
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– DraftKings (@DraftKings) June 5, 2023

  
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