Zhang leads LPGA Mizuho Americas Open in pro debut

NEW YORK: Rose Zhang, making her professional debut after a dominant amateur career, fired a six-under par 66 on Saturday to take a two-shot lead heading into the final round of the LPGA Mizuho Americas Open.

The 20-year-old Californian, whose amateur victories included back-to-back NCAA collegiate titles, the US Women's Amateur and this year's Augusta National Women's Amateur, had six birdies without a bogey to build a 54-hole total of 11-under par at Liberty National in Jersey City, New Jersey.

That put her two clear of overnight co-leader Cheyenne Knight of the United States, Thailand's Atthaya Thitikul and India's Aditi Ashok.

"It's been great," Zhang said of her week so far on the course that overlooks the Manhattan skyline and Statue of Liberty.

"Today was pretty much what I expected. The golf course was playing a little more difficult, especially with the winds gusting up a little bit more and it's in a different direction.

"I was just committed to every single golf shot that I hit today, so I think all that allowed me to shoot the best score that I could."

Zhang started the day two shots off the lead and opened with a birdie at the first. She added birdies at the fourth, sixth and eighth and seized a share of the lead with a birdie at 14.

As cooling temperatures and rising winds made scoring difficult for the late finishers on the back nine, she drove the green at the par-four 16th.

While her eagle attempt from inside six feet didn't drop, she tapped in for a birdie and the solo lead.

"I had 253 from the tee and the wind was right to left a little bit," she said. "I have a natural draw to my driver ... I was in the mindset of I can go for it."

Zhang posted 12 collegiate wins, including eight this season, to draw