LPGA rookie phenom Rose Zhang has struggled over the previous couple of weeks, however she has discovered her kind on the Kroger Queen Metropolis Championship.
She fired off a 4-under 68 on Friday to sit down at 6-under within the event. Zhang is at present eight pictures off chief Peiyun Chien, however something may occur.
After her 2-under 70 throughout the first spherical, Zhang flipped a change.
“Right this moment was so much higher. I felt like I used to be rolling my putts properly,” Zhang stated. “I used to be hitting the place I wanted to be. In the midst of the spherical, I had little slight mishaps, however total, I’m very glad with the way in which I’m taking part in and the way I’m committing to each single shot.”
On Friday, she began on the again 9, the place the two-time NCAA particular person champion made 4 birdies. When Zhang made the flip, she made a bogey on the par-4 1st and par-3 third. The opening three-hole stretch is among the most tough elements of the Kendale Course at Kenwood Nation Membership in Cincinnati, Ohio.
“It’s a recreation of precision, and having the ability to put the ball the place it’s essential be is kind of essential,” Zhang stated.
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“I might say strategy pictures. Some holes are inclined to bounce out — some holes are inclined to spin. Understanding methods to hit your yardages and getting these numbers dialed in… However these greens are additionally very slippery.”
Zhang hit 13-of-14 fairways and 14-of-18 greens in regulation. The 20-year-old put collectively the spherical she wanted on Friday to play good however aggressively on Saturday.
“Tomorrow, the sport plan goes to be the identical, and I’m going to attempt to do what I can to offer myself extra alternatives however maintain it easy,” Zhang stated. “Shifting day, if alternatives come up, I’m going to attempt to take them. In the event that they don’t, I’ll simply be affected person.”
Zhang should anticipate the afternoon spherical to see who she’ll tee off with for transferring day, however proper now, the rookie sits in an important spot to capitalize.
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By means of. You possibly can observe her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports for extra golf protection. You should definitely take a look at @_PlayingThrough too.
