Rose Zhang triumphs in the Cognizant Founders Cup, while Nelly Korda misses breaking her own consecutive win record.
The 20-year-old Zhang birdied four of her last five holes during her final round at Upper Montclair Country Club, securing a two-shot victory over Sweden's Madelene Sagström. Sagström and Zhang both outperformed the rest of the pack, leaving them far ahead of the competition.
Zhang began the day one shot behind Sagström but played some impressive, aggressive golf to take the lead and maintain it throughout the round, ultimately winning her second LPGA Tour victory.
"Today was a quite a roller coaster. Starting off, it was raining, cold - really not the best conditions," said Zhang, who finished 24-under par for the tournament. "I knew it was going to be a struggle just to finish. To even play well was an achievement, let alone win. And Madelene has been playing superbly, beating everyone else by a significant margin. So the goal was to keep up with her. I had no expectations as there was a lot of golf still to play," she explained.
"I started with a bit of luck, hitting the pin on the first hole," Zhang shared. "That helped me build momentum. I managed to hit some close to the pin and ended up saving a few. It really built my confidence."
Zhang had made history in June of last year when she won her first LPGA Tour tournament on her professional debut. Before turning pro, she became the most decorated player in the history of women's amateur golf, closing her amateur career by becoming the first women's golfer to ever win back-to-back individual NCAA National Championships.
However, after her record-breaking win at the Mizuho Americas Open, Zhang struggled with consistency and was unable to recapture that first victory. This tournament in New Jersey saw her deliver a clear performance, carding rounds in the 60s each day - the first time she had done so since joining the LPGA Tour.
Her statistics during the Founders Cup tournament were noteworthy, ranking first in most birdies, hitting the most greens in regulation, and needing the fewest number of putts.
Following her triumph, Zhang acknowledged the increased "expectations" to "perform" due to her prodigious debut and the impact it had on her.
"Sometimes, it got to me a bit, all the noise surrounding me and having to meet those expectations. I was lucky to have family, friends, and a great support system who told me to take it step by step," she expressed. "I had no expectations going into this tournament. I knew the hype and the noise didn't mean anything. I just had to concentrate on my game and put myself in a position to win."
Korda's phenomenal, record-breaking seven-tournament winning streak ended with a tied seventh finish at the Founders Cup, 17 shots behind Zhang. Despite a strong start, Korda's performance gradually declined, leaving her short of the dreamed-of sixth consecutive championship that would have established a record.
Reminiscing about her streak, Korda, 25, told reporters, "This hasn't truly registered yet. It might take another 10 or 15 years for it to feel real. But it's incredible to achieve that in such a competitive field. It's rewarding to put all the time and effort in and see the results."
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Despite her success in winning the tournament, Rose Zhang mentioned that she enjoyed playing golf at Upper Montclair Country Club, stating, "Golf courses like this one really push you to improve your game."
In the wake of her victory, Zhang expressed gratitude towards her supporters and continued to maintain her passion for golf, mentioning, "I can't wait to hit the links again and see what the future holds for me in the world of golf."
Source: edition.cnn.com
