NCAA champ Rose Zhang wins LPGA's Mizuho Americas Open in pro debut - ESPN

JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Two-time NCAA champion Rose Zhang became the first LPGA Tour winner in her pro debut in 72 years, capturing the Mizuho Americas Open with a par on the second hole in a playoff against Jennifer Kupcho on Sunday.

The last woman to win as a pro in her debut was Beverly Hanson, who edged Babe Zaharias to take the Eastern Open in 1951.

Zhang shot a 2-over 74 in the final round and squandered a chance to win the event on the 72nd when she missed an 8-foot par saver after making at least a half dozen clutch saves in a gritty final round performance.

The much-heralded 20-year-old from Stanford made a nearly identical 8-footer on No. 18 at Liberty National on the first playoff hole. Kupcho, who won an NCAA title at Wake Forest in 2018 and had a final round 69, also made a par.

Both players hit the fairway on No. 18 on the second playoff hole, but Zhang hit her approach from the fairway within 10 feet. Kupcho was short on her approach, her first putt went just over the back edge of the green and her second putt just missed. That left Zhang with a two-putt par to win.

• 1st player to win while making their professional debut on the LPGA Tour since Beverly Hanson in 1951 • 4th player to win an LPGA event as a sponsor invite, joining Lydia Ko, Lexi Thompson and Hee Kyung Seo • youngest player to win an LPGA event this season (20 years, 11 days) • 1st player to win their first LPGA start as a pro since Hinako Shibuno in 2019 (and the 8th to do so since 1992)

Zhang held her face in disbelief after the winning putt fell and was then mobbed and presented with bouquets of roses.

«What is happening? I just can't believe it,» she said in a TV interview. «It was just last week that I won NCAAs with my teammates, and to