Golf sensation Rose Zhang, 20, cherishes first US Women’s Open as a professional
PEBBLE BEACH — Phenom Rose Zhang gave a half-hearted wave to the cheering gallery surrounding the 18th green at Pebble Beach Golf Links after she three-putted for a bogey-6 to wrap up her first U.S. Open as a professional.
Zhang, the 20-year-old former Stanford University sensation, didn’t often wow the throng of fans who followed her around the picturesque and historic venue Sunday, but she did enough to post her third top-10 finish in as many pro starts.
She closed with even-par 72 for a 1-over-par 289 total. Her 1-under 71 in the second-round was her low round for the tournament and it sandwiched by 74 in the first round and 72 in the third round.
“My mindset going into the round was pretty steady,” Zhang said.”I knew I had to be somewhat aggressive. Being aggressive at Pebble means hitting greens and just trying to convert putts from everywhere. Unfortunately, that’s not what I really did. Overall, I think it was a solid game plan. I did what I needed to do to keep the ball in play and just try and stay in contention.”
Zhang finished tied for ninth place with Sweden’s Maja Stark, as both earned a $283,921 payday.
Allisen Corpuz of Kapolei, Hawaii, pulled away for the win. She closed with 69 for a 9-under 279 total. She rallied from one stroke back entering play to overtake Japan’s Nasa Hataoka, a six-time LPGA Tour winner. Hataoka blew up for a closing 76 and tied for fourth place at 285.
Zhang, paired with defending champion Minjee Lee of Australia, avoided any major catastrophes as she fired three birdies (Nos. 4, 10 and 12) and three bogeys (1, 14 and 18).
Expectations were high for Zhang, from herself and others. She entered the USGA major as an 8-to-1 favorite to win after hitting the ground running in her transition from collegian to pro.
The Irvine resident produced 12 wins in 20 events during her time on The Farm, including medalist honors at the 2022 and ’23 NCAA Championships.
She won in her pro debut at the inaugural Mizuho Americas Open and followed that up by tying for eighth at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
At Pebble Beach, small greens, overcast skies and mild winds greeted golfers this week. They were rewarded with patches of sun Sunday. The course, as Corpuz could verify, was scorable.
Zhang’s ability to score failed her, but she vowed to clean up her putting and iron play before her next event, the Greater Toledo LPGA Classic in Highland Meadows Golf Club.
“I started off a little bit shaky with a push out right on (hole No.) 1, but I felt like I still kept my pace, kept my momentum and continued the round trying to do my best,” Zhang said. “I wish a couple of putts would’ve dropped. But, other than that, I’m very proud of how I stood my ground. Even though I wasn’t playing the greatest and I wasn’t making putts, I still felt like it was a pretty solid round.”
On the tournament, Zhang averaged 249.8 yards with her driver. She hit 46 of 56 fairways, 46 of 72 greens in regulation and averaged 1.8 putts per green.
Though she kept her hat pulled low and wore sunglasses for the duration of the round, Zhang could be seen chuckling during exchanges with her caddie, and she acknowledged fans who cheered her name.
It was a memorable week, said Zhang, noting that she began her sophomore season at the Carmel Cup in Pebble Beach, and now — a mere 11 months later — she was playing the same course as a professional.
“I’m just lucky to be in contention and at a U.S. Open golf course,” she said. “Pebble has been absolutely incredible and I wouldn’t trade this experience for the world.”
FINAL LEADERBOARD
U.S. Women’s Open1, Allisen Corpuz, Kapolei, Hawaii, 279T2, Charley Hull, England, 282T2, Jiyai Shin, Republic of Korea, 282T4, Bailey Tardy, Norcross, Georgia, 285T4, Nasa Hataoka, Japan, 285