The Manila Times

Rose Zhang leaves amateur to turn pro

ROSE Zhang dominated amateur golf like no other female in the modern game. Now the Stanford star is ready to take on the best.

Zhang announced Friday (Saturday in Manila) she is turning pro, ending an amateur career in which the 20-year-old sophomore set the Stanford record with 12 wins — one more than Tiger Woods — in only 20 tournaments.

She won the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, followed that with her second straight NCAA titles and was No. 1 in the amateur world ranking for 141 weeks, another record.

“Wow ... it’s finally happening,” Zhang announced on Instagram. “The endless love, support and inspiration from so many people brought me to this point of my golf career.”

She will have no shortage of opportunities — the remaining four majors, including the US Women’s Open and the Women’s British Open — have given her special exemptions.

The Women’s Open is at Pebble Beach, the most iconic of US Open venues, for the first time. While no longer an amateur, Zhang is the first player to get a special invitation to the US Women’s Open without having LPGA status since Michelle Wie West.

“This is a big moment for our sport, and I’m very appreciative of the USGA for the opportunity to be part of it,” Zhang said.

Even rarer is getting an invitation to the Women’s British.

Golf

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2023-05-28T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-05-28T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://manilatimes.pressreader.com/article/282132115818984

The Manila Times