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JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Two-time NCAA champion Rose Zhang made her skilled debut Thursday on the LPGA Tour, a strong opening spherical within the Mizuho Americas Open.
The 20-year-old out of Stanford who dominated the ladies’s novice rankings for greater than two years shot a 2-under 70 at Liberty Nationwide within the shadow of New York. The Californian was 5 pictures off the lead held by Lauren Hartlage, who shot a career-best 65.
Aditi Ashok, the primary participant from India on the tour, was at 67 in a event the place the main focus shifted to Zhang final weekend together with her announcement she was turning professional.
Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand and Stephanie Meadow of Northern Eire had 68s.
Ayaka Furue, coming off a loss to Pajaree Anannarukarn on Sunday in remaining of the match play occasion in Las Vegas, was at 69 with Lydia Ko, Brooke Henderson, Emma Talley, Cheyenne Knight, Grace Kim and Yuka Saso.
Zhang did not dominate in her first spherical as a professional however she confirmed sufficient, making 5 birdies and three bogeys on a day her putter did not assist her. She hit fairways and greens in a spherical on a course that incorporates a par 3 performed with the Statue of Liberty staring golfers within the face.
“This was undoubtedly a spherical that might have been higher, and that type of will get me excited to work on extra and to develop my sport even additional,” stated Zhang, who was amongst 14 gamers at 2 beneath. “I felt like I left a pair pictures on the market, and I feel there’s numerous room for enchancment.”
There have been additionally some pictures that have been nice. On the par-5 thirteenth, she chipped in from 29 yards, coming from under the opening and having the ball cross the size of the inexperienced earlier than falling within the gap.
The folks following her group cherished it. It was what they anticipated from the participant who has gained back-to-back Annika Awards as the very best faculty participant, and who gained the Augusta Nationwide Ladies’s Beginner in April.
Her eight wins this season tied Tiger Woods for essentially the most by a Stanford participant in class historical past, and her 12 wins in 20 faculty begins are a college report.
“I do not actually have to consider different folks’s expectations,” Zhang stated. “Like I stated earlier than, I consider it as a praise that they suppose I am able to extra. However on the general degree, I feel I’ve people who simply need me to do the very best I can and so they push me to be higher.”
Zhang will must be higher if Hartlage continues taking part in in addition to she did on Thursday.
Beginning on par-5 tenth, Hartlage ignited her career-best spherical by hitting her second shot to inside a foot and making eagle. She added 5 extra birdies over the ultimate 17 holes, including it was good to play nicely after struggling in her final 4 occasions.
“I really feel like nobody actually expects me to be on the prime, and it is type of enjoyable simply with the ability to simply play with among the finest on the earth and see how I rank,” stated Hartlage, a 25-year-old who has two top-10 finishes since becoming a member of the tour final 12 months.
Ashok, who has two prime 5 finishes in her final three occasions, is 2 pictures behind Hartlage after a bogey-free spherical.
“I simply know that if I play good 4 days, then I will have a fairly good likelihood,” Ashok stated.
Thitikul has two wins and 21 top-10 finishes since becoming a member of the tour final 12 months. The 20-year-old had 5 birdies and bogey and he or she was the one participant within the prime 4 who performed within the afternoon, when the wind picked up.
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