BELMONT, Mich. — Rose Zhang, a 20-year-old golf phenom from Stanford University, burst onto the scene with a historical debut on the LPGA Tour.
Zhang isn’t in the field for the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give, but the golfers are definitely still talking about her debut.
Her performance at the Mizuho Americas Open on June 1-4 sent shockwaves through the golf world. In her first career LPGA tour performance, she finished 9-under to capture the first place trophy. The win placed the two-time NCAA champion in rare company as the first player since Beverly Hanson in 1951 to win on the LPGA in her pro debut.
The victory placed Zhang on the LPGA for the season. She looks to capture her second victory in her next outing at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship June 22-25.
Her immediate emergence onto the top of the LPGA scene has fans and her peers on the tour raving about her.
Rose Zhang: What LPGA golfers are saying about the breakout star
Cheyenne Knight has high praise for Zhang and what she brings to the LPGA Tour.
“Rose is a really great player and a great person,” Knight said. “I met her a few years ago and she has it all. People can really see that. She’s had a great amateur and college golf career. People have compared her with Tiger Woods, she won in her first start. I think it’s great for the LPGA and women’s golf to have someone burst onto the scene like that. You’ve seen Brooke and Lydia and you haven’t seen anyone in a while with how young she is just burst onto the scene like that, so it’s great, I’m happy for her and it was only a matter of time before she got LPGA status. A lot of people will follow her and follow the PGA tour in general.”
Knight is the early first round leader at the Meijer LPGA Classic, finishing with a score of 6-under.
Lindsey Weaver-Wright also expressed her excitement for the impact Zhang could have on the LPGA Tour.
“I think it’s inspiring for all girls in the game of golf,” Weaver-Wright said.
Especially those her own age, like Wake Forest golfer Rachel Kuehn, who is playing in her second LPGA event.
“Rose is a really great friend of mine, and we’ve played a lot of junior golf and college golf together. She’s a nicer person than she is a really good golfer,” Kuehn said. “To see her have that immediate success, we were all cheering for her back home, she’s just incredible, she has no weakness in her golf game. It’s definitely inspiring because it’s the girl that I’ve played against and to see her come out and win, it gives me hope and optimism.”
Defending champion Jennifer Kupcho played with Zhang last week.
“She’s a great player. I was texting my Wake Forest coach during the college season and I told him that she needs to turn pro and she’s ready to be out here,” she said. “It’s exciting to see her out here already winning.”
Rose Zhang’s next tournament
Zhang will compete in her first major as a professional at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship June 22-25.
It will be just her second professional tournament, but she has some big-tournament experience already, winning the NCAA Championship.
But all eyes will be on her next week, which will add a layer of pressure unlike she has seen before.