CLIFTON, NJ – Big things have been expected of Rose Zhang because the two-time NCAA champion won her skilled debut last 12 months and joined the LPGA Tour the next week.
On Sunday, the 20-year-old finally delivered again, birdieing 4 of the last five holes to win the Cognizant Founders Cup. She defeated Madelene Sagstrom by two strokes, officially ending Nelly Korda's record-breaking winning streak on the LPGA Tour.
“I have been able to grow so much over the course of the journey over the past year,” Zhang said. “I don’t know, it’s crazy coming out here. I didn't expect to have to win because I realize it's all just noise and I just have to be able to work at it myself and do my best to get myself into those positions.
“But no matter what happened this week, I would have been very happy and it has reignited my passion for the game,” she added after her win on Mother’s Day.
Zhang, who was talking to her mother as she entered the media room, actually had a fun begin to her round. The Stanford product almost fell on her rear end and took successful from a clumsy position on the primary hole. The shot could have gone anywhere. It hit the pin and he or she made par.
“I just thought, wow, I mean, today is probably going to be a lucky day,” said Zhang, who was playing far back with Sagstrom in a stroke-play duel with the remainder of the sector. “Maybe I can get something going. I couldn't have imagined who I am now, especially after 12.
Sagstrom birdied that hole to take a three-shot lead, and things weren't looking good for Zhang.
Things got better at the event where the 13 founding members of the tour were honored.
Zhang, who shot a 6-under 66, made birdies on Nos. 14, 15, 17 and 18 at Upper Montclair Country Club, while Sagstrom bogeyed the 16th to finish two points behind.
Korda, who has struggled the past two days after winning magnificently five straight times she competed, began the day 11 shots behind and shot her second straight 73 to finish in seventh place at 7 under to reach.
She didn't regret anything. She hopes someone joins her and Hall of Famers Nancy Lopez and Annika Sorenstam in winning five or more in a row.
“But to be able to do this with all the competition out here is super, super rewarding considering how much work I put in,” Korda, 25, said. “That's why I think it's amazing to have such a winning streak in any sport, considering how much talent I think every athlete has in their sport. “Just an incredible feeling and hopefully it’ll be felt someday.”
It was a heartbreaking end for Sagstrom, the 31-year-old Swede who started the day with a lead and was hoping for her first win since 2020 and second overall on the Tour.
“I did so well this week. I worked really hard for a long time,” Sagstrom said. “I putted incredibly. It's really high up there. That's probably why it hurts more. Nothing against Rose. She played incredibly. I wish I had given myself a few more chances at the end. I didn't want it to end like this. This is probably the best golf I’ve played in years.”
Sagstrom led by three shots after 13 minutes, but Zhang made a birdie putt after 14 minutes and made an 8-footer on the next shot to pull within one point. It was tied at 16, with Sagstrom missing a 10-foot par putt after a bad chip from the back edge.
After Sagstrom saved par on the par-3 17th with a quick 25-foot shot downhill, Zhang took the lead with a short birdie putt and tied it on the final hole while Sagstrom waited for a birdie attempt.
Zhang, who won in her professional debut last year at nearby Liberty National, posted a score of 24-under 264.
Rookie Gabriela Ruffels of Australia finished third at 9 under, her best finish. She shot 71. Peiyun Chien of Taiwan and Ruoning Yin and Xiyu Lin of China were tied at 8 under.
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