Rose Zhang shoots round record, Nelly Korda is six back

When Rose Zhang burst onto the professional golf scene, she carried with her the weight of expectations. As a two-time NCAA champion, she emerged from Stanford University and became the first woman to win in her professional debut since 1951. The golfing world held its breath, anticipating a string of victories akin to Nelly Korda’s recent dominance.

However, Rose Zhang’s journey took an unexpected turn. After her triumph at the Mizuho Americas Open in Jersey City last year, the elusive wins have remained just out of reach. Despite playing well—with four top-10 finishes and earnings of $1.39 million in 13 events—those coveted Ws have remained elusive.

This season, Rose Zhang took a break from the tour to finish her degree at Stanford, which has affected her performance. She has played in six events, missing two cuts and her best finish being a tie for fifth in the Match Play event.

Rose Zhang’s Record-Tying Performance

This week, back in New Jersey, the 20-year-old phenom tied the Cognizant Founders Cup record with a scintillating 9-under 63 during the first round at the Upper Montclair Country Club. Her bogey-free round featured nine birdies, including a crucial one on the 18th hole—a tribute to the 13 founding members of the LPGA Tour. Notably, this performance not only matched the tournament record but also marked Rose Zhang’s personal lowest score since she joined the top world’s circuit.

Zhang’s record-breaking round has significant implications for her career and the LPGA Tour. With her confidence boosted, Rose is now in a strong position to challenge Nelly Korda‘s record winning streak. Korda scored a very nice 3 under 69 and sits T18 after 18 holes.

Rose Zhang‘s journey to this point has been marked by a mix of adrenaline-fueled performances and periods of fatigue. In her early days on the tour, she relied heavily on her natural talent and enthusiasm, which led to a string of impressive results. However, as the pressure mounted and the grind of the tour took its toll,

Rose Zhang found it difficult to maintain her early form. She took a break from the tour to work on her degree, which further disrupted her rhythm. In recent weeks, Zhang has struggled with her golf swing and gained confidence in her preparation. Her breakthrough round at the Cognizant Founders Cup was a testament to her ability to adapt and overcome these challenges.

Additionally, Zhang’s performance has put her in contention for a spot in the Olympics, where she needs to be either one of the top two Americans or one of the top four and inside the top 15 in the world rankings to qualify. Rose’s title defense at Liberty National Golf Course next week will also be crucial in determining her chances of making the Olympic team.

Rose Zhang’s record-breaking round at the Cognizant Founders Cup is a testament to her resilience and determination. Her new personal score of 63 strokes is a significant milestone in her career, and it will be interesting to see how she builds on this momentum in the coming weeks.