Medalist Zhang, local favorite Davis meet in 36-hole final

July 16, 2021 | by United States Golf Association

Courtesy of USGA

U.S. Girls' Junior title on the line at Columbia Country Club; watch the action on Peacock and the Golf Channel

Eleven months ago, Rose Zhang won a USGA title in Maryland. On Saturday, she’ll have the chance to do it again. The 2020 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion will face off against local favorite Bailey Davis in the 72nd U.S. Girls’ Junior final at Columbia Country Club in Chevy Chase, Md., with the Glenna Collett Vare Trophy on the line.

In two thrilling semifinal matches, Zhang, the stroke-play medalist, outlasted Paula Miranda in 20 holes, while No. 3 seed Davis, 18, of White Plains, Md., sank a 20-foot birdie putt on the 18th to edge Katie Li, 1 up.

For Davis, who is attempting become the first African-American female to win a USGA title, it continues a dream week in her home state.

“A few people have come up to me and said, ‘Go Maryland!’ as I'm walking down the fairway,” said Davis, a three-time Maryland high school state champion. “Everyone has been extremely supportive, and a lot of people from around the state have come out to watch me, so it means a lot to have made it this far.”

"I want younger girls that look like me to be able to look at me and say if she can do it, I can do it as well."@baileyyydavis is a finalist in the 72nd #USGirlsJunior! pic.twitter.com/OSkevd4gS5
— USGA (@USGA) July 16, 2021

After a stress-free victory against Karen Tsuru in the morning, Davis was 1 down through 4 holes in her semifinal against Li. She won the par-5 fifth for the fifth consecutive match, then made a birdie on No. 6 to pull ahead. After her bogey on the seventh squared the match again, Davis won Nos. 8 and 9 to take a 2-up lead.

Li won the par-5 12th when Davis lipped out a 4-foot par putt, but gave it back at the 15th, when she topped her approach shot from the right rough and could not scramble for par. On the following hole, with Davis already on the back fringe, Li thought she had pulled her tee shot on Columbia’s signature par-3 16th, but her ball caught a slope and funneled to within 3 feet.

“I thought I pulled it like 20 yards, and I was like, oh, this is embarrassing,” said Li, 16, of Basking Ridge, N.J. “Then I looked back and everybody was clapping and I looked at it and it was spinning back, and I was like, oh, that's fun.”

Li calmly converted the birdie to tie the match. They halved the 17th with pars and both hit the 18th green. With Li inside 10 feet, Davis lined up her putt, took a deep breath, and made the most important stroke of her life.

“I've been gaining confidence as the week has gone on,” said Davis. “I was counting on Katie making that putt. My caddie said to me, ‘We just want to make this, so let's pick a line and sink it. That's what I did.”

Zhang didn’t have her best on Friday but dug deep and found enough clutch shots to survive the harrowing double-round day. She punched her ticket to the championship match with a 5-foot par putt on the 20th hole (Columbia’s par-4 17th) after Miranda made bogey from the front bunker.

“I didn't have my ‘A game,’ so I just had to stay patient,” said Zhang. “I had to grind out there, and I knew I had the grit to do it, but I feel really accomplished with how I played in that circumstance, and tomorrow I'm just going to go out there and play my game again.”

Rose Zhang says winning the #USGirlsJunior would be "simply amazing!" pic.twitter.com/4lsWLohSNc
— USGA (@USGA) July 16, 2021

Zhang, who had not trailed in any of her first three matches, fell behind briefly in her quarterfinal match before taking command by winning six of the next 10 holes to close out Yana Wilson, 4 and 3.

In her afternoon match, Zhang parred her first 10 holes, but was 2 down to Miranda, who birdied the third and eighth holes. Zhang took advantage of a wayward drive from Miranda at the 11th to halve the deficit, then made a miraculous birdie on the par-5 12th, getting up and down from behind a tree to tie the match. She made it three in a row on the par-3 13th when Miranda pushed her tee shot into the right rough and failed to save par.

Miranda fought back at the par-4 17th, knocking her wedge to 8 feet to set up a birdie that tied the match. Though she ultimately came up short, Miranda held her own against the top-ranked amateur in the world.

“Before I teed off, I was pretty nervous,” said Miranda, 17, of Mexico. “That wore off as I became more comfortable with my game throughout the match. She's an amazing player, number one, so, yeah, of course I'm happy. I'm proud of myself.”

What’s Next

The 36-hole championship match will begin at 6:30 a.m. EDT. Live coverage will be on Golf Channel from 1-3 p.m. EDT.

Notables

--Both finalists are exempt into the U.S. Women’s Amateur at Westchester Country Club in Rye, N.Y. on Aug. 2-8. Saturday’s champion will also earn an exemption into the 2022 U.S. Women’s Open at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club in Southern Pines, N.C., as well as an invitation to the Augusta National Women’s Amateur in April.

--Since 2019, Zhang has won 14 of 15 matches in USGA championships, with her only loss coming to 2021 U.S. Women’s Open champion Yuka Saso in the quarterfinals of the 2019 Girls’ Junior.

--Before her semifinal match, Zhang had not played the 17th or 18th holes in match play.

--Zhang is attempting to become the first medalist since Ariya Jutanugarn in 2011 to win the title.

--Zhang has played 79 holes through the semifinals while Davis has played 83.

--Zhang is an incoming freshman at Stanford University, while Davis is an incoming freshman at the University of Tennessee.

--Davis has been making the approximately one-hour drive from her home in White Plains, Md., each of the first five days of the championship, but with the 6:30 a.m. start to the championship match, she is planning to stay closer to the course on Friday night.

About the U.S. Girls' Junior Amateur

Medalist Zhang, local favorite Davis meet in 36-hole final

The Girls Junior Amateur is one of 15 national championships conducted by the USGA. The event is open to female golfers who have not reached their 19th birthday prior to the close of competition and whose USGA Handicap Index does not exceed 5.4. Play...

Most Popular Articles

GOLF'S LONGEST DAY: 2026 U.S. Open Final Qualifying Monday June 8

Jun 5, 2026Follow along from 10 locations - our team is on the ground looking for the best stories

How to Watch the 2026 NCAA Golf Championships

May 20, 2026Everything you need to tune into the men's and women's NCAA Division I golf championships at Omni La Costa

2026 NCAA Men's Golf Championship: Live Coverage, Field & Daily Updates from La Costa

Jun 3, 2026Auburn defeats UCLA at La Costa to capture its second NCAA men’s golf championship in three years.

Why Pinehurst Is the Ultimate Place to Play a Two-Man Championship

May 19, 2026Competitive golfers take on Pinehurst during the AmateurGolf.com Two Man Links and Father & Son Championship presented by Titleist

Stanford Wins 4th NCAA Women's Golf Title, Tops USC

May 26, 2026The Cardinals closed a dominant week at La Costa with another match-play crown — their fourth national title

Filters

Related Tournament

U.S. Girls' Junior Amateur

View Details

Loading latest news...

Loading article...