I think its our responsibility to just be excited and happy to be on this golf course and to be able to be in contention. Nov 02, 2021. He also teaches parents some advanced ideas about golf and how to become a good parent of a good golfer. 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. MORE: Rose Zhang completes rare double with dominant victory at U.S. Girls' Junior Am Much was expected from Zhang upon her arrival in Palo Alto. This will be Zhang's second U.S. Women's Open start. Zhang, 17, has won everything that can be won in womens amateur golf. On her 19th birthday she was presented with the Annika Award for best female college golfer of the year. A perfect Zhang story, but not often told, occurredat the 2020 Ping Invitational. Wins. Now, with a Girls Junior PGA and ANA Junior Inspiration championship under her belt (which landed her an LPGA. Shell be competing for the U.S. in the Pan American Games in August, Pinnell said. We paid a visit to Bills grave and then sat around swapping old stories. Within a couple of months, she was competing in tournaments. Steve Fryer covers high school sports at the Orange County Register. In May 2022, Zhang won the individual NCAA Championship by 3 shots. Over the past three years, George has been my coach/swing coach. He has helped her get to a place where she can focus on what she needs to do. Phil Mickelson won three NCAA titles at ASU. When on the road with Zhang at an event, the coach and pupil have a most unusual pre-game routine. In 2019, Zhang was one of the youngest competitors in theAugusta National Womens Amateur. She was on the cusp of winning the 72nd US Girls' Junior Championship at Columbia Country Club in Chevy Chase, Md., but had lost the. Zhang began playing golf at age 9 and now, at 18, is the best amateur player in the world. Rose Zhang makes it three in a row at Stanford Intercollegiate. She put her club in her bag and said, 'OK, Dad, lets go to dinner and get ready for tomorrow,' Pinnell recalled. Zhang opened her college account by winning the Molly Collegiate Invitational before adding the Windy City Collegiate Classic the following week. She never gets away from that, said Pinnell. But remember the name: Zhang looks like the real deal. He'll return for her title defense in the latter, which begins Monday at Westchester Country Club in Rye, New York. By signing up, you agree to the She had an old head on young shoulders, Pinnell said. And after some lessons, she entered a nine-hole tournament to test her game. We are so lucky to be working with a truly talented coach. The information and support he gives to his players is really valuable. During my first few classes, George already corrected nearly unnoticeable but very crucial mistakes in just my set up that I had never even realized. 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. Privacy Policy. MORE: Rose Zhang completes rare double with dominant victory at U.S. I learned so much in so short a time while spending time with you at The Open. Hell return for her title defense in the latter, which begins Monday at Westchester Country Club in Rye, New York. Zhang has played her first nine rounds of college golf in in 23 under par, with an average score of 69.1. The last couple days weve seen really nice crowds coming out to watch them play. 1765.2275. She defeated then reigning U.S. Womens Amateur champion Gabriela Ruffles on the 36th hole to crown herself the champ last year, and officially became the No. Zhang is the only high school student, by the way, among the top 20 female amateur golfers in the world. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. she improved much under his good teaching and is on the way to succeed as a junior golfer step by step. Getty Images. She competed in the 2019 U.S. Women's Open at 16 years of age. Her father is her part-time caddie. 1-ranked amateur in September after finishing T-11 at the ANA Inspiration. His way of teaching golf is very professional, and he is very experienced and nice with good personality. Not even Stanford alumni Tiger Woods managed that. Shes obviously spent many hours of work. Pinnell didnt hear that story until a week later, and in that moment he finally understood why she rarely contacts him during a tournament with questions. Zhang arrived at Stanford with a string of amateur accomplishments to her name to match what Woods achieved in the unpaid game. 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. He is really good at reading players minds, so be prepared to communicate. 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. ; Players who represented the country they moved to in . [1], Zhang attended Pacific Academy and enrolled at Stanford University in 2021.[3][4]. Shes too busy self-correcting. 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. Personal life [ edit] Zhang was born in Arcadia, California and resides in Irvine, California. 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. She has interests in business and management but remains undecided on a major. Pinnell doesnt speak unless Zhang initiates. Furthermore, George has shown genuine care for my mental and wellbeing outside of lessons when Im traveling for a golf tournament. Through her slowed-down swings, Zhang realized that she was taking the club back too inside which was causing her to miss shots. 1 spot in the World Amateur Golf Ranking since September 2020. Unlike sports such as soccer and basketball, golf has a steep start-up cost before you even arrive at the range with equipment. Those who know 17-year-old Zhang best say shes kind, humble and funny. Georges knowledge and experience gives him the ability to be direct and speak to what changes should be made to improve my performance. 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. Instant access to the latest news, videos and photos from around the world of golf. At the 2019 Pan American Games, she was on the winning U.S. mixed-gender team and placed eighth in the individual competition. If I had a coach like you, I would give everything I have to fight for victories. George has given me a tremendous amount of help with all parts of the game including the swing, short game and putting as well as the mental part of my game. Most important, he loves what he does and he is driven by that love. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images). In total the Players that have received instruction from George have accounted for 350+ tournament wins on the Professional, College and Junior levels. AUGUSTA, Ga. Rose Zhang is the World No. For me, Im learning so much from watching her, said Stanford womens coach Anne Walker. It's been a great month of golf for me so far thanks to George Pinnell! Oct 17, 2021. 16 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. Oct 04, 2021. She won the 2020 U.S. The day-to-day grind caught up with Zhang around the beginning of the year, when she battled tendinitis in her arm and wrist. As the warmup begins on the range, it remains quiet. She played with Bronte Law, Atthaya Thitikul and Angel Yin. What is it about Zhang that makes her so good? For us, Coach George Pinnell has been the best coach ever to help my daughter Alesia Barry succeed as a junior golfer. Amanda Jessie Carlson first saw artistic swimming at age 8 when neighbors invited her to an annual water show by the Meraquas of Irvine. We all should learn the life lessons, attitude and the tenacious fighting spirit that you have toward difficulties that you face. 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. Less than 12 hours after nationals, she turned pro, having competed against in her two-year stint in Tucson 1,880 golfers and beated all but 15 of them. Shell be three back of the leader and the next thing you know, she finds a way to get something done.. The Cardinal roster includes the reigning NCAA individual champion and player of the year, Rachel Heck, and first-team All-American Angelina Ye. Thanks for everything George. She competed in the 2019 U.S. Women's Open at 16 years of age. Zhang also won the PING Invitational this year to become the first juniors-level two-time PING Invitational champion. Before that I looked at schools around California like USC, UCLA and Stanford, said Zhang who has not participated in CIF-Southern Section golf. 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. Steve was honored as Champion for Character by the CIF-Southern Section. Youre kidding me, Pinnell replied. Thats when Pinnell realized there was more to Zhang than the athletic teenager he first met whose swing still needed some tweaking. That all changed five years ago when she swung a golf club for the first time. They will join Neighbours icons Stefan Dennis, Alan Fletcher, Ryan Moloney, and Jackie Woodburne, who were already confirmed as back on board for the reboot. 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. Zhang chalked it up to bad course management. Much was expected from Zhang upon her arrival in Palo Alto. In total the Players that have received instruction from George have accounted for 350+ tournament wins on the Professional, College and Junior levels. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. That kind of self-awareness is only possible for someone who constantly works within themselves to achieve peak performance. Heck won five straight tournaments to cap her freshman year in the spring. Thank you for all to George Pinnell! The first question asked of her was to describe the adventure on the par-5 13th. He is always there to check in with how I am feeling before and after the rounds. Top 10 Finishes. Only the top 30 American women were invited. Since receiving those text messages full of advanced golf questions, Pinnell has had an idea of Zhangs potential. What makes Rose Zhang the No. She said: Woods won two of his first three tournaments in the 1994/95 American college season. This is a list of sportspeople who have moved to compete for another country.Not included in this list are: Players who could choose to play for a new country after the dissolution of their former country. Since then, Zhangs diligence toward golf has paid off in wins. He is really good at reading players minds, so be prepared to communicate. Her father has been with her every step of the way and has been very instrumental for Rose on her mental outlook on the game and on life, said Pinnell. That event was definitely very hard, Zhang said. 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. American Junior Golf Association 1980 Sports Club Drive Braselton, GA 30517 (877) 373-2542 (770) 868-4200 (Phone) (770) 868-4211 (Fax) ajga@ajga.org Several times different people mentioned like this reminds them back in the day when Tiger was here in the 1990s and people in the community knew the players and were watching the players and wanting to come out and see them in person. The West Coast Junior Open will feature daily coverage on and will be ranked by both the Golfweek/Sagarin Rankings and The Junior Golf Scoreboard. My first lesson with George was 3 years ago. How much of that history Rose Zhang is aware of is unknown, but the 18-year-old Stanford freshman is likely to learn more of it in the coming week as she embarks on one of the more anticipated college debuts in recent memoryand starts to follow the legend of Ochoa. She's already 263rd on the Rolex Womens World Golf Rankings. Coach George has been a critical factor for my daughter, Angie Zhang, in her golf pursuit. To be out there together with him is pretty cool, she said. Girls' Junior Am. I was just like, Oh well, Ill just act natural, Zhang said. Copyright 1996 - Stanford Cardinal golfer Rose Zhang lands Adidas' first NIL deal Golf Home Scores Schedule Rankings Stats Standings How To Watch PGA TOUR rose135z 21.0K followers View profile rose135z 92. He cares about, and checks scores, for every single tournament his players compete in, no matter how big or small the tournament is. It changed my daily schedule that I was so used to., Although frustrating at times, the break was a turning point in Zhangs career. I think her mentality is, I can beat you. Now, she would never say that, and she would kill me for saying that, but yeah. 2023 "Understanding what tempo I have really helps me calm down on the golf course. She won the U.S. Women's Amateur title in. When shes not golfing, she can be found doing homework, surfing the web, watching Chinese variety shows and hanging out with friends. 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. 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. 8 Georgia, 1up, Won her semifinal match vs. No. 5 Auburn, 5&4, Won her championship match vs. No. They like to keep it tight with few loose-moving parts. The discipline and focus are off-the-charts high. During the extended range session, Zhang is intensely focused on the second key to her success her fundamentals. BY EMILIA MIGLIACCIO AUGUST 1, 2021 Yes, the messages were from Zhangs number, the 12-year-old golfer Pinnell was coaching. On her 19th birthday she was presented with the Annika Award for best female college golfer of the year. I have been working with George since I was 14. Dave was a member of the Association of Golf Writers since 1986, giving great service to the association over the years. She can be as good as she wants to be, Pinnell said. His ability to recognize anything from small details to major mistakes has greatly improved the consistency of my swing. Zhang is No. 8 in the womens World Amateur Golf Ranking. 1 in Golfstat and also boast the top-ranked amateur and college player in sophomore Rose Zhang.. Not the case with Pinnell, who spends a lot of time with Zhangworking on structure in the golf swing. In this time of Thanksgiving, we want to express our appreciation for you. Steve Burkowski and Brentley Romine debrief after some dominant performances at Blessings and Colonial before paying tribute to the late Richard Sykes. That was very frustrating since she started golf late and had only been playing for two and half years. 2017 Junior PGA Championship, Junior Americas 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. Pinnell, like so many others, believes Zhang could be a generational type of player:I think that is in her veins.. A perfect Zhang story, but not often told, occurred at the 2020 Ping Invitational. Stanford, Zhang victorious at Windy City Collegiate. First, she stays in the present. We see so many coaches with elite talent who dont totally know what to do with that talent, said Walker, and they get overwhelmed with it themselves., Rose Zhang hugs Ingrid Lindblad on the 18th green during the final round of the Augusta National Womens Amateur at Augusta National Golf Club on April 03, 2021 in Augusta, Georgia. I got to test my game against them, Zhang said, so that was certainly a special experience.. 1-ranked team in the Womens Golf Coaches Association polls, having won all three team titles so far this fall. Steve does concert reviews for the Register, too, when time permits. It helps make me relax and believe in what I do, she says. Zhang committed to Stanford in the spring of her sophomore year. If youve ever played at Oak Creek Golf Club, you may have seen her out on the course. Shes an extremely humble youngster. That time was tough mentally and physically, said Zhang, who could not practice for several weeks. 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. And my ability to play under pressure is pretty good. Before nodding off the night before tournaments, Zhang likes to mentally prepare herself by listening to audio recordings of the Bible. Divisor. She defeated then reigning U.S. Womens Amateur champion Gabriela Ruffles on the 36th hole to crown herself the champ last year,and officially became the No. Rose Zhang kicked off her sophomore season with a Pebble Beach course record and later a dominating victory at the Carmel Cup. And I think she has that in the back of her mind, but again, would never say it. 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. Rose Zhang overcame a shaky front nine to shoot a 3-over 75 on Monday, capping her stellar freshman season by becoming Stanford's second straight individual NCAA champion. His ability to recognize anything from small details to major mistakes has greatly improved the consistency of my swing. Coaches, ADs and staff who do not have current access may request their free account here. However, Zhang looks like she could step onto the LPGA Tour right now and make an impact. Take Rose Zhang, for example. She practices every day after school. Thats been the fun part. I dont set specific goals, but try to keep myself in a strict practice, said Zhang. She never actually hit a golf ball. This is the first tournament of the2023 Golfweek Junior Tournament Series. After pleasantries are exchanged at the elevator, Rose goes into game-face mode. The world's top-ranked female amateur and two-time USGA champion won her third consecutive tournament to begin her collegiate career on Sunday, claiming the individual title at the Stanford Intercollegiate by four shots over Sara Kouskova of Texas. Top finishers will win automatic exemptions into the prestigious Golfweek International Junior Invitational Nov 4-5 in Florida. She and her coach detail the keys to success. Annika Sorenstam played two years at Arizona, as did Lorena Ochoa. George Pinnell has worked with Zhang for six years and said the laser-focused teen rarely has time away from her golf and studies. Ive always told Rose, if you can take care of the golf ball, everything else will take care of itself. Pinnell was uncertain how Zhang would handle the Country Club of Charleston course on short rest. When pressed for an example, Pinnell tells a story from the AJGA Ping Invitational last October, when Zhang fell four strokes back after a 75. She does some amazing things, said George Pinnell, who has been Zhangs coach going on seven years. Zhang has also signed with Amundi, Beats, Uswing and Paradox. Its a rapid rise Pinnell wishes he could credit to his own coaching. the U.S. Girls Junior Amateur title in July, Heck won five straight tournaments to cap her freshman year in the spring. It was really a special day for women in golf. George has taught some of the best players in the world and helped them to where they are now in their careers. Rose just kind of takes it in stride, Pinnell said. 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. Steve also is in the Southern California Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame, and was the first journalist to receive the Contribution to Education award from the Orange County Department of Education. 1-ranked amateur in the world to turn professional. 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. 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. And as a parent I learn quite a bit from him as well. Zhang made the final round and finished 17th. We see the success of Rose Zhang: her wins, her clutch putts and her consistency. My dad is one of the biggest influences in my life and in my character, said Zhang. 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. Women's Amateur champion; 2021 U.S. Girls' Champion; two-time Rolex Junior Player of the Year; a member of the victorious 2021 U . They have done wonders for me, Zhang said of Pacific Academys teachers and staff. If I had a coach like you, I would give everything I have to fight for victories. Zhang has a verbal commitment to golf for Stanford University after high school. George and I have become good friends during our time spent together during the last few years. I am definitely extremely grateful and blessed to have him as a coach, mentor, and friend. The West Coast Junior Open will feature daily coverage on and will be ranked by both the Golfweek/Sagarin Rankings and The Junior Golf Scoreboard. 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.. Shes never said that to me.. 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. I think, for me, I have a lot of maturing to do, said Rose, whod just knocked the socks off a half a dozen scribes with her clear and sunny perspective. She was curious and dedicated, willing to put in the time needed to improve her game, asking the sort of questions that proved to the longtime coach his pupil was impressive beyond just driving distance and a knack for reading greens. Zhang has a snapshot of herself with Irvines best-known golfer: Tiger Woods. Zhang shot a 3-over-75 to cap the national title at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona. Steve's first byline appeared in the Register in 1979. He writes a weekly column on the county high school sports scene and also covers games and writes features. Stanford freshman Rose Zhang at Siebel Varsity Golf Training Complex. 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. But what does it actually take to reach this levelof achievement? 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. A. He was in the inaugural class inducted into the Santa Ana Unified School District Sports Hall of Fame. PALOS VERDES ESTATES, Calif. - No. She celebrated her victory by flying to Evian, France, where she competed in another LPGA major, the Amundi Evian Championship, and made the cut. GOLF DIGEST MAY EARN A PORTION OF SALES FROM PRODUCTS THAT ARE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR SITE AS PART OF OUR AFFILIATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH RETAILERS. For now, I don't really have any intention of turning professional. Im pretty in tune in knowing what my body is doing, she said. We, and all of those who you touch, owe you a deep, thank you, from the heart. After several minutes she threw the club back in the bag and told her father Ive got it and that it was time to have a nice dinner and rest. For a player who easily grasps big-picture perspectives, the value of a back-up plan surely isnt lost on her. Shot 64 to finish 2nd stage Japan Q-school to finish 3rd!!! [7], Following the win, Zhang rose to number 1 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking in September 2020 after finishing T-11 at the 2020 ANA Inspiration, an LPGA major. 1 in the American Junior Golf Association rankings for more than 53 weeks. Girls' Junior becoming the first player to win the U.S. Womens Ambefore theJunior. We got so much TV coverage. 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. Golf Central Zhang low am; likely headed back to Stanford BY. After the round she went out to the range and started taking slow methodical swings with a 9-iron, going through the fundamentals that shes worked on with Pinnell all these years.