JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Rose Zhang lived up to all the pretournament hype as the next great women’s golfer — at least in her first week as a pro.
The two-time NCAA champion became the first player in 72 years to win on the LPGA Tour in her pro debut, capturing the Mizuho Americas Open with a par on the second playoff hole against Jennifer Kupcho on Sunday.
Zhang arrived on the LPGA Tour with the most fanfare since Michelle Wie West in 2005 and delivered in the shadow of the Big Apple.
“I just can’t believe it,” Zhang said. “It was just last week when I won NCAAs with my teammates, and to turn pro and come out here, it’s just been amazing. I’ve enjoyed the journey.”
The span was actually 13 days.
The last woman to win as a pro in her debut was Beverly Hanson, who edged Babe Zaharias to take the Eastern Open in 1951.
Zhang’s performance was so impressive it drew the…
