Rose Zhang, planet No. 1 amateur golfer and two-time NCAA champion, turns pro

In a move lengthy anticipated, Rose Zhang, the two-time NCAA women’s golf person champion and longtime planet No. 1 amateur, announced Friday she’s turning skilled.

The Stanford sophomore will pro debut in the inaugural Mizuho Americas Open at Liberty National Golf Club subsequent week. Zhang, who turned 20 on Wednesday, announced her move on Instagram. She’ll hold a news conference subsequent Tuesday in Jersey City, N.J., according to her agent, Kevin Hopkins, of Excel Sports Management.

Zhang’s pro debut will be a single of the most anticipated in women’s skilled golf history. Zhang produced the reduce in the 2019 U.S. Women’s Open as a 16-year-old, won the 2020 U.S. Amateur, and completed tied for 11th at the 2020 ANA Inspiration, an LPGA significant. She could’ve turned pro then, but opted to enroll at Stanford. Although most anticipated her to play only a single season of collegiate golf, she alternatively spent two years with the Cardinal.

These two seasons developed a historical run. Zhang won 12 of 20 college tournaments, winning at an unheard-of price. She broke Tiger Woods’ college record for total wins though playing six fewer tournaments. She also matched Lorena Ochoa for the most wins in Pac-12 women’s golf history.

Zhang won each the 2022 and 2023 women’s person national championships and led Stanford to the 2022 group national title. She’s also won the U.S. Women’s Amateur, the U.S. Girls Junior and the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

All told, Zhang has ranked No. 1 in the Planet Amateur Golf Ranking because September 2020, a record.

How superior is Zhang?

The accolades are also quite a few to list, but of all them, the most jarring feat from Zhang is probably her college scoring record.

As a freshman, the then-18-year-old set the NCAA single season record of 69.68 in 31 rounds played.

Then, as a sophomore, she broke that record, shaving almost a complete stroke (.98) off her prior total, and establishing a new mark of 68.70 in 27 rounds.

In total, 50 of Zhang’s 58 rounds as a collegian ended at par or greater. She shot 31 rounds in the 60s. In addition to her 12 wins, she posted six other top rated 10s.

It is lengthy been speculated that, though playing as an amateur, Zhang basically translated to a top rated-15 or top rated-20 player in the planet. There’s no precise measure for that, but Zhang is anticipated to compete instantly in the skilled ranks.

Her coaches typically say that it is not a single region of Zhang’s game that sticks out the most — driving, ball-striking, brief game — but alternatively the entire of her components and her choice-producing.

What’s Zhang’s influence on women’s skilled golf?

Obtaining previously signed important name, image and likeness offers though in college, Zhang will enter the pro ranks with huge sponsorships currently in spot. She holds seven-figure offers with Callaway, Adidas and other individuals.

Zhang’s amateur profession was constantly a point of fascination amongst golf fans. She’ll draw focus early and typically as a skilled.

This summer time, she’s anticipated to play in all 5 majors and, if all goes to program, use a series of tournament exemptions to safe her LPGA Tour card.

Following the Mizuho Americas, more than the subsequent two months, Zhang will play in the U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach (June 22-25), the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Baltusrol (July six-9), the Dana Open (July 13-16) and the Evian Championship (July 27-30).

(Photo: Christian Petersen /Getty Pictures)