Zhang wins collegiate debut at the Molly Invitational

Despite high expectations, chances are Rose Zhang, the world's top-ranked women's amateur and two-time USGA champion, won't win all of her events at Stanford, but she still has a fighting chance after capturing the Molly Invitational Tuesday in in her collegiate debut.

Zhang fired a final-round 4-under 68 on the demanding Bayonet Course in Seaside, Calif., to finish at 3-under 213 for the 54-hole event, good for a three-stroke win over teammate Caroline Sturdza and Natasha Andrea Oon of San Jose State, who finished at even-par 216.

Zhang, the 2020 U.S. Women's Amateur champion who won her second USGA title this summer at the U.S. Girls' Junior in Chevy Chase, Md., began the day two strokes off the individual lead held by Zoe Campos of UCLA. She birdied the first hole at the challenging Bayonet Course, only to give the stroke right back with a bogey on the par-4 second.

Great start to the season for the Card at The Molly Intercollegiate!

🏆🏆🏆 TEAM CHAMPIONS

🌹🌹🌹 INDIVIDUAL CHAMPION#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/WxgSG8TOz1

— Stanford Women's Golf (@StanfordWGolf) September 28, 2021

After parring the next three holes, Zhang seized control of the tournament by making birdies on four of the next five holes to move to three-under. She finished her round with eight consecutive pars to win her collegiate debut.

Zhang's final round 68 coupled with a 5-under 67 by Sturdza led a last-day charge by the Cardinal which saw Stanford overcome a six-shot deficit to chase down San Jose State and UCLA for the team title. The Spartans and Bruins, which matched scores for all three rounds, shot 6-over 294 for their final round, while Stanford turned in a 6-under 282 to finish seven strokes clear of the field at 14-over 878.