Youth Movement: China’s Yin Beats Fellow 20-Year-Old Zhang at Women’s PGA

Rose Zhang had an impossibly high bar to clear to top herself in her first major as a pro. But she fared well for herself at the KMBP Women’s PGA Championship.

After becoming the first women’s golfer to win her pro debut in 72 years by winning the Mizuho Americas Open in New Jersey earlier this month, Zhang shot a 67 on Sunday to finish tied for eighth.

The 20-year-old Stanford University product finished three strokes behind winner Ruoning Yin of China, who is also just 20 years of age.

“When I was on the 18th tee and I saw the leaderboard, and I know I have one-shot lead,” Yin said, “but once … I saw Yuka [Saso] make an incredible birdie here, and I know I have to make birdie at this hole to win the championship. I’m glad I did it.”

Yin’s putt to shoot 67:pic.twitter.com/BCddWeGW0o

— Golf Central (@GolfCentral) June 25, 2023

Zhang was a shot off the lead going into the 16^th hole, where she pulled her tee shot on the par-3 hole and wound up with a bogey.

“To be fair, the first week at Mizuho, it felt a little bit just surreal,” Zhang said. “I didn’t feel like I was a professional. I was straight-up coming from NCAAs, and it was kind of just a trial run in my opinion. It was a little start to my career, and I didn’t really have any expectations. Even this week I didn’t have any sort of expectations on myself, but at the same time, I wanted to see where my game ended up with the professionals and to really see if I can able to be in contention on a good day, on a bad day, etc.”

We see you out there @rosezhang 👀

A top-10 finish in your first Major is still quite the accomplishment 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/sBaP8uQOHz

— Solheim Cup Team USA 🇺🇸 (@SolheimCupUSA) June 26, 2023

“It’s really cool to see that my game is there, and I just have to work a little extra harder to play better.”

Zhang and the rest of the top women’s golfers in the world head to Pebble Beach in two weeks for the tour’s next major, the U.S. Women’s Open.

Cover Photo via Twitter