JERSEY CITY, N.J. — A lot was anticipated of Rose Zhang when she turned skilled final week, and she or he is already delivering.
The 2-time NCAA champion moved into place to win in her professional debut, taking pictures a 6-under 66 on Saturday to take a 2-shot lead into the ultimate spherical of the Mizuho Americas Open.
“I have been on this place earlier than, however I have never been on this place as knowledgeable, since that is my first week, so I am actually simply studying all the things that I may,” Zhang stated. “Tomorrow, I will be simply making an attempt to determine what it feels wish to be within the remaining group, navigate my manner by way of, and I am certain by the top of the day I am going to be capable of, you recognize, simply construct my character extra.”
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The previous Stanford star had six birdies in a bogey-free spherical on a uncooked, overcast day at Liberty Nationwide in leaping to the highest of the leaderboard. It is nothing new for the 20-year-old who gained 12 of 20 occasions in her two years in faculty, with many viewing it as an indication of issues to return.
Occasion 1 is definitely shaping up that manner with a day to go, and it may have been higher. Zhang settled for a tap-in birdie on the driveable sixteenth gap after hitting her tee shot inside about 5 ft.
Cheyenne Knight, who was tied with Minjee Lee for the midway lead at 7 beneath, was tied for second with Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand and Aditi Ashok of India, who each shot 68s. Knight had a 69, making a bogey at No. 17 and lacking a 10-footer for birdie on the ultimate gap.
Lee (72) was 7 beneath in fifth place, a shot forward of Jennifer Kupcho (69) rookie Hae Ran Ryu (66) and Eun-Hee Ji (70).
Stephanie Kyriacoiu of Australia had the perfect spherical of the day, taking pictures a 65 that included an eagle, six birdies and an early bogey. The 22-year-old was at 5 beneath together with top-ranked Jin Younger Ko (73) and fellow South Korean participant Sei Younger Kim (70).
They are going to all must catch Zhang, who was the No. 1 girls’s newbie for 141 weeks. She is also on a roll, having gained the Augusta Nationwide Ladies’s Newbie this 12 months and her second straight NCAA title final month.
This has been a busy week for Zhang. Not solely did she flip professional, however she has proven plenty of composure on the course and off with the sheer quantity of interview requests.
“I nonetheless suppose I am human so I do really feel little small butterflies right here and there,” the Irvine, California, resident stated. “I have been fairly comfy once I’ve been on the golf course. I have been in a position to faucet into my zone and I’ve simply been making an attempt to consider how that is the game that I have been enjoying for the final 10 or so years. I am simply doing what I have to do and going again to what my physique is aware of.”
Seven girls have gained their first begin as a professional on the LPGA Tour since 1992, with Hinako Shibuno of Japan being the final one within the 2019 Ladies’s British Open.
Knight additionally has been in her zone on the lookout for her second win on tour and first since 2019. She has been within the prime 10 after 36 holes in her previous 4 occasions.
“I am excited, however, I imply, yeah, Minjee I feel shot 8 beneath yesterday. Marina [Alex] did, too. It is on the market,” Knight stated. “I am excited to assault, and, yeah, simply give myself some possibilities tomorrow and hopefully they drop.”
Ashok has had just one bogey in three rounds in her seek for her first win on this tour.
“I feel this golf course particularly makes you suppose lots,” stated Ashok, who has had two top-three finishes in current weeks. “Should you get the proper angles and in the event you play it good I feel it is simpler to not drop photographs.”
No. 3 ranked Lydia Ko, who was a shot behind the lead coming into the spherical, and No. 8 ranked Brooke Henderson, who was 2 photographs off the tempo, completed at 1-under. Ko shot 77 and Henderson 76.