Rose Zhang Claims Second Career Victory at Cognizant Founders Cup

Rose Zhang won a stretch duel with Madelene Sagstrom to emerge victorious at the Cognizant Founders Cup on Sunday.

Trailing by three shots with five holes remaining, Zhang birdied four of her remaining holes to score a two-shot win over Sagstrom.

She finished the 72 holes at 24 under par 264 after a closing 6-under par 66. Sagstrom, who bogeyed the 16^th hole to fall out of a tie for the lead, finished at 266 after recording a 69.

Madelene Sagstrom. Photo Credit: 2024 Getty Images

Third-place finisher Gabriella Ruffels finished 13 additional shots behind at 279.

It was the second career win for the 20-year-old Zhang. Her first came last May at the Mizuho Americas Open in her initial LPGA start; a title she will defend this coming week.

 Facing the three-shot deficit, Zhang focused on the basics of the challenging layout at Upper Montclair Country Club.

“You need to know how to hit the fairways, how to hit the greens and give yourself the best opportunities for birdie,” she said. 

“That's all I could have done, because if I started looking ahead of myself and stressing out about the score, I could easily bogey and that would ultimately seal the fate of not being able to hoist the trophy. I think I really did a good job settling myself and almost accepting anything that comes. If there is an opportunity, I'll take it. If there isn't I'll just keep on playing my game. That's all there was to it”.

Women’s Golf Magazine would also like to shout out to rising Australian golf star, Gabi Ruffles who finished in third place- the best result of her rookie LPGA season so far!

Words: Rick Woelfel  

Main Image: Rose Zhang. Photo Credit: 2024 Getty Images