When I first came to him when I was 11, his way of teaching really intrigued me with all the technology he had including Trackman, his side/front swing cameras, and his large TVs. She'll be competing for the U.S. in the Pan American Games in August, Pinnell said. The same goes for junior golf, too. Zhang decided to compete at the Thunderbird International Junior tournament in Arizona the week before the U.S. Womens Open. Hes always been the one to push me further and that really helps me get into the grit mindset,which takes over into my golf game, said Rose. Those who know 17-year-old Zhang best say shes kind, humble and funny. On Sunday at the Stanford Invitational, Zhang finished her third college start for the Cardinal with her third victory. She also credits her father for developing her into a tough competitor. That kind of self-awareness is only possible for someone who constantly works within themselves to achieve peak performance. And when she shot 3 over on the first two holes Thursday, Pinnell thought, This is going to be really hard., But on the other hand, I know Rose, Pinnell said. Take Rose Zhang, for example. I am truly grateful for everything George has taught me in both golf and life. In 2019, Zhang advanced to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Girls' Junior and helped the USA win a mixed team gold medal in the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. Less than a week after the death of Renton Laidlaw, news comes that fellow golf writer Dave Hamilton has gone to that great press tent in the sky. Then I readjust what I need to do.. I duck-hooked a drive, Zhang began as she went blow-by-blow through the triple-bogey eight that derailed her run at the Augusta National Womens Amateur title. In total the Players that have received instruction from George have accounted for 350+ tournament wins on the Professional, College and Junior levels. Win or lose, when Zhang walks away from Team USA and returns to the usual isolating amateur summer, spending hours alone in the confines of her mind, a new Rose Zhang will emerge. 21.8301. The 16-year-old phenom is a junior at Pacific Academy in Irvine, where she holds a 4.6 GPA, which is all the more amazing since she missed 50 days of school last year for tournaments. She had an old head on young shoulders, Pinnell said. My dad is one of the biggest influences in my life and in my character, said Zhang. AUGUSTA, Ga. Rose Zhang is the World No. 1 in the American Junior Golf Association rankings for more than 53 weeks. GOLF DIGEST MAY EARN A PORTION OF SALES FROM PRODUCTS THAT ARE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR SITE AS PART OF OUR AFFILIATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH RETAILERS. We are so lucky to be working with a truly talented coach. It's a rapid. She celebrated her victory by flying to Evian, France, where she competed in another LPGA major, the Amundi Evian Championship, and made the cut. In total the Players that have received instruction from George have accounted for 350+ tournament wins on the Professional, College and Junior levels. She made just two bogeys over 54 holes en route to shooting a school-record-tying 16-under 197 at the Stanford Golf Club. We all should learn the life lessons, attitude and the tenacious fighting spirit that you have toward difficulties that you face. He has a very personal style where he has individual chats with her, where he listens to her as much as she listens to him. Stanford star Rose Zhang continued an impressive year on the course when she won the Smyth Salver at the AIG Women's Open. I could go on, but you get the drift. Zhang arrived at Stanford with a string of amateur accomplishments to her name to match what Woods achieved in the unpaid game. Henry, who is usually on the bag, followed every shot at Augusta from outside the ropes. Rose Zhang presented with McCormack medal at The Spirit. Rose Zhang stood several paces to the side as Gabriela Ruffels leaned over her par putt attempt at the 38th hole Sunday afternoon, fully expecting her opponent to sink the four-footer to extend. Maybe someday Woods will ask for a snapshot with her. The tournament is open to any players age 13-19 who meet the eligibility requirements and are not yet affiliated with a college golf team. Georges knowledge and experience gives him the ability to be direct and speak to what changes should be made to improve my performance. Among them a two-time Mark H McCormack Medal winner (2020 and 2021) as the leading player on the World Amateur Golf Ranking; 2020 U.S. Womens Amateur champion; 2021 U.S. Girls Champion; two-time Rolex Junior Player of the Year; a member of the victorious 2021 U.S. Curtis Cup team; low amateur in the 2020 ANA Inspiration with an 11th place finish. She won the U.S. Women's Amateur title in. Rose Zhang of the Stanford Cardinal celebrates with teammates after winning the individual national title during the 2023 Division I Women's Golf Championship held at the Grayhawk Golf Club. The multi-year deal was announced on the morning of Zhang entering the U.S. Women's Open.[13]. Rose Zhang, who is the top-ranked junior golfer, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Rose Zhang, who is the top-ranked junior golfer in the world and a student at Irvines Pacific Academy, signs with Stanford, Orange County scores and player stats for Saturday, March 4, Orange County girls water polo Top 10: Orange Lutheran finishes No. He knows how to encourage golfers to face the challenges and he knows everything about the growth of a good junior golfer in the process. However, Zhang looks like she could step onto the LPGA Tour right now and make an impact. She lost her lead after a second-round 75 on the challenging Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Stanford freshman Rose Zhang at Siebel Varsity Golf Training Complex. She defeated then reigning U.S. Women's Amateur champion Gabriela Ruffles on the 36th hole to crown herself the champ last year, and officially became the No. He is very experienced and is truly an amazing person. Golfweekrecently caught up with Heather Daly-Donofrio, a former LPGA player and tour executive who leads the program. Its just more hassle to go around and see which courses I can play at.. She celebrated her victory by flying to Evian, France, where she competed in another LPGA major, the Amundi Evian Championship, and made the cut. Unlike sports such as soccer and basketball, golf has a steep start-up cost before you even arrive at the range with equipment. Subscribe now. But before enrolling this fall, Zhang insisted she was looking forward Stanford and determined to continue to work on her game before attempting to play professionally. Pinnell, 75, credits Zhangs father Henry for her strong mental approach, saying that she thrives on the challenges he presents. At the 2019 Pan American Games, she was on the winning U.S. mixed-gender team and placed eighth in the individual competition. Its like having another me there to share the experiences.. What is it about Zhang that makes her so good? Her golf schedule forces her to miss plenty of school time. I dont really want to take any bad memories away from here.. Girls' Junior becoming the first player to win the U.S. Womens Ambefore theJunior. She does some amazing things, said George Pinnell, who has been Zhangs coach going on seven years. She competed in the 2019 U.S. Women's Open and was on the gold medal team at the 2019 Pan American Games . George graciously took her in and then trained her with his life-lessons, his advanced technology equipment, skillful instructions, and star-student- role-model setting. She won the 2020 U.S. Rose Zhang initially thought tennis would be her calling. He has helped her get to a place where she can focus on what she needs to do. Within a little over half year, he was able to get Angie's confidence back and she started shooting within 70s which was previously very rare for her. PALOS VERDES ESTATES, Calif. - No. Several people say this reminds them of when Tiger was here back in the 90s., I do believe that the best sports psychologist in the world is a square clubface at impact. Rory McIlroy. February 27, 2023 at 11:54 AM. Amateur, but the first to win the Amateur before the Junior, Won the 2020Rolex Girls Junior Championship, 2020 ANA Inspiration Low Amateur, breaking Michelle Wie's scoring record (T11th), 2019 winner at the Toyota Junior World Cup, Swinging Skirts AJGA Invitational and Rolex Tournament of Champions, Represented Team USA at the 2019 Junior Solheim Cup and Pan-American Games, Four-time Curtis Cup Player of the Year for Southern California. His list of players include a PGA Tour Champion, a LPGA Tour Champion, an USGA Champion, 2-NCAA All-Americans, and 31 Polo Junior All-Americans. And it helped me gain confidence in what I really want to do in the future.. #JustSaying: I do believe that the best sports psychologist in the world is a square clubface at impact. Rory McIlroy, Photograph courtesy of the Ladies European Tour, Shes everything I thought she would be. George quickly put her back on track for progress and health. Working with you has been an amazing opportunity. 1 spot in the World Amateur Golf Ranking since September 2020. The highlight of her career so far: taking a celebratory leap into Poppies Pond at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage after winning the 2018 ANA Junior Inspiration. He has high expectations for me and he sacrificed a lot of time and effort for me. she improved much under his good teaching and is on the way to succeed as a junior golfer step by step. In 2019, Zhang was one of the youngest competitors in theAugusta National Womens Amateur. I really love the game of golf, she says. I think inside of her, shes got a lot of confidence.. George quickly put her back on track for progress and health. But what does it actually take to reach this levelof achievement? Not many reading this will know of the Dave Hamilton. Since receiving those text messages full of advanced golf questions, Pinnell has had an idea of Zhangs potential. And I think she has that in the back of her mind, but again, would never say it. Rose Zhang (born May 24, 2003 [1]) is an American amateur golfer. Walker credits Pinnell for not only being a swing coach but a mentor, too. We are so lucky to be working with a truly talented coach. My first lesson with George was 3 years ago. She was different.. She asked for it while rep- resenting America at the Junior Ryder Cup in Paris in 2018. AUGUSTA, Ga. Rose Zhang approached the microphone with a smile. Rose Zhang has also been No. the U.S. Girls Junior Amateur title in July, Heck won five straight tournaments to cap her freshman year in the spring. Stanford star's incredible start begs question: Has a historic college season just begun? Im confident I have a chance, she says. Former colleague Beth Ann Nichols quotes Stanford womens golf coach Anne Walker as saying: Walker expanded on that notion to the Stanford website. With the technology and his ability to analyze my swing effectively, my game has really improved greatly in each stage of junior and amateur golf. No mens or womens player in school history has won her first three starts, and just six womens golfers in program history have won three times in their entire careers. Shes competing in her third Girls Junior PGA Championship an event she won in 2017 and finished as runner-up last year which gets underway Tuesday at Keney Park Golf Course in Hartford, Conn. Its a far cry from where Zhangs competitive golf career began, as a 10-year-old on the Southern California PGA Junior Development Tour. Before our friend referred us to Coach George, Angie was at a standstill and shot in the upper 80s and even 90s with consistent back pain after her freshman Fall season in December 2019. Shell be three back of the leader and the next thing you know, she finds a way to get something done.. https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2019/07/09/rose-zhang-golf-amateur-us-womens-open-lpga/, Mexico, Caribbean, Atlantic islands, Central America, Top 50 Classic Courses in Great Britain & Ireland, Top 50 Modern Courses in Great Britain & Ireland, No. 5 Auburn, 5&4, Won her championship match vs. No. We got so much TV coverage. He has a very personal style where he has individual chats with her, where he listens to her as much as she listens to him. LPGA TourMi Hyun KimHyun Hee MoonShi Hyun AhnAra KohIrene ChoRussy GulyanamittaHana KimSarah LeeJi Young LeeNa On MinAngela ParkAnna RawsonSung Ah Yim, Mini TourRyan CarterAndrew PatipaksiriLalita Patipaksiri, Japanese PGA TourJay Choi WinnerDavid Oh, Cactus Tour / Symetra TourJoy TrotterLalita Patipaksiri, Top AmateursKristen Park- USGA ChampionHenna ChoPatty ChawalithmethaRoy KimTiffany Lua UCLA & 2 time Curtis Cup Player. Zhangs father was on the bag during her low-am run at the 2020 ANA and her U.S. Women's Amateur win. Tempo is biggest thing for her. Statistics. Tiger Woods played two years at Stanford. Sometimes I tend to quick it up and I definitely feel it. Steve does concert reviews for the Register, too, when time permits. Zhang has played her first nine rounds of college golf in in 23 under par, with an average score of 69.1. Her swings may look effortless and her rhythm unmatchable, but effortlessness is only achieved in daily, boring work 300 range balls, 100 straight 4-footers and then taking that work to the course. Zhang processes things differently, he said. Golfweekrecently caught up with Heather Daly-Donofrio, a former LPGA player and tour executive who leads the program. She then clinched Stanfords second NCAA team title by winning the final match, 3 and 1. Top finishers will win automatic exemptions into the prestigious Golfweek International Junior Invitational Nov 4-5 in Florida. Zhang also won the PING Invitational this year to become the first juniors-level two-time PING Invitational champion. Zhang began playing golf at age 9 and now, at 18, is the best amateur player in the world. He not only teaches Alice the skill of golf technology , but also he teaches her mental guidance and how to become a good player. And when Rose makes a mistake when shes playing, you dont get too nervous, because she has a way of rectifying and really coming back strong.. In this time of Thanksgiving, we want to express our appreciation for you. If it wasnt for Henry, Rose wouldnt be the player she is today.. Within a couple of months, she was competing in tournaments. Rose Zhang has also been No. I only wish we could see him more often. What characteristics about Zhang make her stand out from her competition? 11. Shes arguably the best American junior golfer to come along in a decade and many wonder how time at Stanford starting later this fall could possibly help her advance. Her father is her part-time caddie. She also sets difficult challenges for herself, which include making 100 4-foot putts in a row, so when I play in tournaments Ive already been in a competitive game mode, Zhang explained. She competed in the 2019 U.S. Women's Open at 16 years of age. I am definitely extremely grateful and blessed to have him as a coach, mentor, and friend. Shes too busy self-correcting. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) "A lot of us want a little more than just golf," said Stanford sophomore Angelina Ye, who finished 15th and walked most of the back nine with Zhang. 1-ranked amateur in the world to turn professional. She then clinched Stanford's second NCAA team title by winning the final match, 3 and 1. Having spent her youth dabbling in other sports like . The fact that you will drive all the way to The Olympic Club, in San Francisco and back, proves that you are a real champion deserving of all the accolades, titles and trophies that your players win. On a school day, practice begins for Zhang at 2:30 p.m. and ends at 7:30, consisting of 200-300 golf balls on the range and an hour each for chipping and putting. ; Players who represented the country they moved to in . He has helped her get to a place where she can focus on what she needs to do. I think shes going to blow any hard worker Ive ever had on my team away, said Cardinal coach Anne Walker. I really enjoyed everything about Stanford. Furthermore, George has shown genuine care for my mental and wellbeing outside of lessons when Im traveling for a golf tournament. We, and all of those who you touch, owe you a deep, thank you, from the heart. She played with Bronte Law, Atthaya Thitikul and Angel Yin. 1 for a reason: Stanford freshman phenom Rose Zhang holds on to win individual title wire-to-wire at 2022 NCAA Championship", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rose_Zhang&oldid=1126143045, Winners of ladies' major amateur golf championships, Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, 2017 Junior PGA Championship, Junior America's Cup, 2018 ANA Junior Inspiration, Swinging Skirts AJGA Invitational, The PING Invitational, 2019 Toyota Junior World Cup, Swinging Skirts AJGA Invitational, Rolex Tournament of Champions, This page was last edited on 7 December 2022, at 19:41. Players field: 43 of top 50 in OWGR, no Tiger, CL: Few devils in details of Tour's event restructure, Rahm falters with 76 in wind: 'It's f**king hard', Pod: Blessings, Colonial, & remembering Sykes, Day after Pebble record, Zhang wins fall opener, Zhang low am; likely headed back to Stanford. George and I have become good friends during our time spent together during the last few years. . Shell be three back of the leader and the next thing you know, she finds a way to get something done.. Her patience is just unreal. Only the top 30 American women were invited. Since then, Zhangs diligence toward golf has paid off in wins. He helps me stay driven.. It's been a great month of golf for me so far thanks to George Pinnell! She put her club in her bag and said, OK, Dad, lets go to dinner and get ready for tomorrow, Pinnell recalled. The 2023 Golfweek Southwest Junior Open returns May 27-28, to award winning Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa, AZ. Zhang began playing golf at age 9and now, at 18, is the best amateur player in the world. I dont set specific goals, but try to keep myself in a strict practice, said Zhang. Zhang finished 1-over 289, making the cut in her first LPGA start. Coach George has been a critical factor for my daughter, Angie Zhang, in her golf pursuit. I am definitely extremely grateful and blessed to have him as a coach, mentor, and friend. Georges knowledge and experience gives him the ability to be direct and speak to what changes should be made to improve my performance. In June 2022, Adidas announced its first name, image, and likeness deal with Zhang, making her the company's first student athlete.