The Rose Zhang era has officially begun.
The 20-year-old former Stanford star – who just two weeks ago defended her NCAA Championship title – won her professional debut on Sunday at the 2023 Mizuho Americas Open at Liberty National in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Zhang, the most-recent Augusta National Women’s Amateur champion, defeated the inaugural ANWA winner Jennifer Kupcho in a playoff to become the first player to win in her LPGA pro debut since Beverly Hanson in 1951 and earn membership on the tour after just one start.
“What is happening?” said Zhang as she held a bouquet of red roses just off the 18th green. “I just can’t believe it.”
Zhang’s historic win caught the attention of a few folks around the sports world, such as 15-time major winner Tiger Woods and fan-favorite Max Homa.