Rose Zhang has joined the ranks of notable names to bear the Stanford Cardinal by winning her second NCAA Divison I golf title, becoming the first woman to claim two individual titles. But her 10th win in 12 events this year brings her career total to 12, breaking a school record held by three Stanford Men’s golfers, including Tiger Woods.
BACK-TO-BACK #NCAAGolf titles for Rose Zhang! pic.twitter.com/6rPLXYFS0Y
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) May 23, 2023
Zhang was one of many Stanford golfers to play at Grayhawk Golf Club this past week and won her second individual title following a final round -4, 68.
Zhang had a disappointing opening round 72, which left her in a tie for 36th. However, a 67 and 71 in rounds two and three, respectively, put her four off the lead, which was held by USC’s Catherine Park. Three birdies on the front nine and two more on the first three holes of the back 9 helped Zhang catch her momentum and hunt down a struggling Park.
Zhang held a one-shot lead going into 18 and maintained that with a par on the final hole.
Stanford’s Rose Zhang became the first-ever back-to-back NCAA individual golf champion!! #NCAAGolf x @StanfordWGolf pic.twitter.com/oLYlKZbew6
— NCAA (@NCAA) May 23, 2023
The strategy was to stay close, play smart, and follow the gameplan, which was, according to an interview with the NCAA, was “to be in position:”
“I feel like the gameplan today was to be in position. Especially at Grayhawk, the greens are very difficult. They’ve been placing the pins in very difficult positions, so really understanding where you need to be was critical. For me and my teammates, we’ve been on a gameplan the whole week, and we will continue to do that going into Match Play, so without that gameplan I wouldn’t be here.”
Zhang’s 12 wins match Woods, Maverick McNealy, and Patrick Rodgers. It was also Stanford’s third-straight individual women’s title, with the last two being won by Zhang, the previous one being captured by Rachel Heck.
Cover Image Via Twitter
