Rose Zhang wins in professional debut

Nothing is impossible for Rose. 

She did it. What she’s worked her whole life to do. In a fight to the finish, Rose Zhang clinched the victory at the Mizuho Americas Open in her professional debut. She’s the first golfer since 1951 to win in her first start as a professional.

What a day for women’s golf. This is just the beginning!

In The Winner’s Circle With Rose Zhang

Hometown/Resides: Irvine, California

Birthdate: May 24, 2003

LPGA TOUR ELIGIBILITY: Zhang is eligible to accept immediate LPGA Tour membership for the remainder of the season and for the following season with her win at the Mizuho Americas Open

Turned Professional: 2023

Caddie: Jason Gilroyed

VICTORIES

LPGA TOUR: First career victory

AS AN AMATEUR: 28 victories including back-to-back NCAA Women’s Golf Championship Individual Championships (2022, 2023) and the 2023 Augusta National Women's Amateur

MONEY

If Zhang accepts immediate LPGA Tour membership, she will earn $412,500 towards her official and career earnings on the LPGA Tour

PREVIOUS LPGA TOUR PERFORMANCE

Thirteen previous starts on Tour as an amateur, including eight major championships, with a best finish of T11 at the 2020 The Chevron Championship

OF NOTE

• Zhang made her professional debut at the Mizuho Americas Open
• She played as a sponsor invitation at the event
• She is the sixth player to win in a playoff in the 2023 LPGA Tour season
• With her win, Zhang is eligible to accept immediate LPGA Tour membership for the remainder of the season and for the following season
• If she accepts membership by midnight tonight (June 4, 2023), Points and Money for the win will be official for the purposes of the Race to CME Globe Points and the LPGA Official Money List
• The current season will be considered Zhang’s Rookie year  
• She will not receive Player of Year, Rookie of Year or Solheim Cup points for the win
• Zhang is the first player to win in their first start as a professional on the LPGA Tour since Hinako Shibuno won the 2019 AIG Women’s Open
• She is the eighth player since 1992 to win in their first professional start on Tour, joining the likes of Shibuno and Karrie Webb (1995 Weetabix Women’s British Open)
• Zhang is the first player to win while making their professional debut since Beverly Hanson did so in 1951
• Zhang is the first non-member to win on the LPGA Tour since Maja Stark won the 2022 ISPS Handa World Invitational
• She is the fourth sponsor invite to win on Tour, joining Lydia Ko (2013 & 2013 CPKC Women’s Open), Lexi Thompson (2011 Navistar LPGA Classic) and Hee Kyung Seo (2010 JTBC Classic Presented by Barbasol)
• If Zhang accepts immediate membership, she will become the fourth Rolex First-Time Winner of the 2023 LPGA Tour season, alongside Lilia Vu (Honda LPGA Thailand, The Chevron Championship), Ruoning Yin (DIO Implant LA Open) and Grace Kim (LOTTE Championship presented by Hoakalei)
• Zhang is coming off one of the most successful amateur careers in history, having earned two NCAA Women’s Golf Championship Individual Championship titles (2022, 2023), back-to-back ANNIKA Awards (2022, 2023) and a win at the 2023 Augusta National Women's Amateur, among many other accolades
• Zhang spent 141 weeks as the number one ranked amateur in the world, most of any player