Rose Zhang has pulled off history. Again.
With a final-round 74, and then a par on the second hole a playoff to defeat Jennifer Kupcho at the Mizuho Americas Open, Zhang is the second player to ever win her professional debut on the LPGA Tour, joining Beverly Hanson, who won the 1951 Eastern Open.
Zhang carded two bogeys and 16 pars during the final round at Liberty National. History was made, with the Statue of Liberty and New York City skyline in the background, when she made a winning par on the second playoff hole.
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In addition, Zhang earned an opportunity to accept LPGA membership with the victory, which the 20-year-old was expected to do shortly after signing her scorecard.
“What is happening?” Zhang said afterwards, still in shock. “To turn pro and come out here has just been amazing.”
Here’s what accepting her LPGA tour card would mean for Zhang:
• LPGA membership for the next two seasons.
• Eligible to be part of the 2023 US Solheim Cup team. Zhang’s win earned her points for the next two Solheim Cups – this September in Spain and the 2024 Cup next September at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia.
• Begin accumulating CME points. Getting into the top 60 of the CME points list makes her eligible to play at the CME Group Tour Championship. Her 500 points from the victory moves Zhang ahead of major champion Hyo Joo Kim, who was 18th at the start of the week with 497.9 points.
• Her $US412,500 first-place check counts as official LPGA money.
• Officially enters the race for the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year. The victory gives Zhang 150 points, trailing leader Hae Ran Ryu. Ryu finished in third place today, a shot out of the playoff between Zhang and Kupcho.
