Rose Zhang made Higher Montclair Nation Membership look straightforward because the younger phenom posted a career-low on Day 1 of the Cognizant Founders Cup. She fired off a bogey-free 9-under 63 to guide the sector by two photographs.
That rating tied the event file and set a brand new LPGA profession low spherical after Zhang’s 65 on the Maybank Championship rating final October.
“It’s been a sizzling minute since I’ve been ready to do this,” Zhang stated. “Actually, it’s actually enjoyable. Reignites the fervour to grind extra and attempt to play higher.”
The competitors was fierce as Madelene Sagström set a excessive bar with a 7-under 65 through the morning wave. But, Zhang surpassed her with six holes to play, showcasing a red-hot putter.
She recorded 9 birdies on her spherical and felt like she lastly received some momentum going.
“It was nearly auto-command golf,” Zhang stated. “I really feel like within the final couple of weeks, it’s been a little bit bit tough. I’ve been battling the golf swing and gaining confidence in my preparation. Going into this week, I let all of it go. I used to be in a position to free myself up — good to see some photographs go in, particularly on the greens.”
This golf course isn’t any slouch, and Zhang is aware of it. Nevertheless, she hit 11-of-14 fairways and 16-of-18 greens. Her strategy play was on fireplace. To file simply 25 putts in a spherical was spectacular for the 20-year-old.
Zhang has had an up-and-down second season, however issues are slowly bettering. She has two high 7’s on the season however has missed the minimize in two of her final 4 begins.
Granted, Zhang snuck in a T5 on the T-Cell Match Play occasion at Shadow Creek, however the rising star has been quiet. Ending up at Stanford has stored her off the course, however now that faculty is over, it’s on.
“It’s fairly massive as a result of I do know that the quantity’s on the market for me,” she stated. “If I’m in a position to get dialed in and do what I have to — the quantity’s on the market. I can play my very own recreation. So long as I’ve that little little bit of confidence, it doesn’t matter what occurs the subsequent couple of days, I do know that I’m going to grind it out and determine one thing out alongside the way in which.”
She is going to play at 8:10 a.m. on Friday alongside Megan Khang and Lydia Ko, as Zhang seems to be to maintain up the tempo and win her second LPGA title.
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By way of. For extra golf protection, you should definitely comply with us @_PlayingThrough on all main social platforms. You may also comply with her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.
