CLIFTON, N.J. — Great things have been expected from Rose Zhang from the moment the two-time NCAA champion won in her professional debut last year and joined the LPGA Tour the following week.
The 20-year-old finally delivered Sunday, birdieing four of the final five holes to win the Cognizant Founders Cup. She beat Madelene Sagstrom by 2 strokes while putting an official end to Nelly Korda’s record-tying LPGA Tour winning streak.
“I was able to grow so much throughout the journey in this past year,” Zhang said. “I don’t know, it’s crazy to come out here. Didn’t have any expectation of having to win because I realize that it’s all just noise, and I really just have to be able to work at it myself and try my best to put myself in positions like this.
“But no matter what happened this week, I would’ve been very satisfied, and it reignited my passion for the game once again.”
Zhang, who was talking to her mom on Mother’s Day coming into the media room, had a funny start to her round. The Stanford product almost fell on her rear end while taking a shot from an awkward stance on the first hole. The shot could have gone anywhere. It hit the pin, and she made par.
“I just thought to myself, wow, I mean, today is probably going to be a lucky…
