Rose Zhang and Madelene Sagström entered the ultimate spherical of the Cognizant Founders Cup in a two-woman race. Each had been 10 away from your entire discipline as Nelly Korda fell off on transferring day.
Zhang discovered herself three pictures down by means of 13 holes and had only a 9 p.c probability to win.
The 20-year-old phenom then went nuclear on the ultimate 5 holes and defeated the Swede by two pictures as she carded a bogey-free 6-under 66 to complete 24-under. Zhang performed phenomenal golf all week, going 63-68-67-66.
She made 4 birdies in her last 5 holes to safe the insane comeback win.
“I’m nonetheless shaking proper now,” Zhang stated. “I by no means gave up. I at all times knew I had one thing in me to only grind it out, benefit from the time. Madelene is a particularly strong participant, so with out additional ado, she was principally hitting each single shot subsequent to the opening, making putts. I needed to put together myself for the hardest problem. However it’s loopy that this occurred.”
It marks her second LPGA profession win in lower than 12 months on Tour. Zhang beforehand grew to become the primary girl since Beverly Hanson in 1954 to win her LPGA Tour debut on the 2023 Mizuho Americas Open. That occurs to be subsequent week’s event.
Sagström seemed unbeatable all day till she coughed up a shot on par-4 sixteenth. In the meantime, the Stanford Cardinal took the lead by one on 17 after she made a clutch birdie putt. Each gamers hit an unimaginable method shot on 18, leaving every with a have a look at birdie.
However Zhang was away with a putt to clinch it.
She stepped as much as the ball like a veteran and made a assured stroke on the ball. It tracked completely and finally dropped proper into the opening.
This weekend has been all about Sagström and Zhang. They battled all week, and the ultimate 18 felt extra like match play than a stroke play occasion.
“It nearly felt like match play. I used to be telling my dad within the automotive yesterday that I performed her at Solheim Cup final 12 months, and I knew she was a strong participant,” Zhang stated. “It doesn’t matter what anybody else says, I do know she will be able to rise to the event — no drawback. So I needed to keep affected person and discover it in me to get it executed.”
The world has watched her excel at each stage and has grown to anticipate nice issues from Zhang.
From back-to-back particular person nationwide championships at Stanford to successful her debut and now this comeback victory — Zhang is clutch.
This victory will push Zhang into the Prime 15 on the Rolex World Golf Rankings and into the Olympic dialogue. She’s going to head to Liberty Nationwide subsequent week to defend her title on the Mizuho Americas Open.
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By means of. For extra golf protection, remember to observe us @_PlayingThrough on all main social platforms. You may as well observe her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.