Rose Zhang won her LPGA debut on Sunday, just 13 days after the Stanford golfer won her second NCAA title.

The 20-year-old, who became the first to win back-to-back NCAA women’s golf titles, followed up her historic sophomore season by becoming the first player in 72 years to win in her LPGA Tour professional debut. She did so at the Mizuho Americas Open, defeating Jennifer Kupcho in a playoff.

“I just can’t believe it,” Zhang said of the triumphant beginning to her much-anticipated pro career. “It was just last week when I won NCAAs with my teammates, and to turn pro and come out here, it’s just been amazing. I’ve enjoyed the journey.”

Beverly Hanson was the last woman to win in her pro debut, taking the Eastern Open title in 1951.

The performance from Zhang even drew the attention of fellow Stanford golfer Tiger Woods. Zhang tied his Stanford record for wins in a career (12), which had been held by Woods and three other golfers.

“Incredible few weeks for Rose Zhang, defends her NCAA title and then wins in her Pro debut. Go Card!” he wrote.

If you ask Zhang, who led from start to finish, there weren’t a lot of expectations to begin the tournament.

“I honestly didn’t expect to make the cut,” Zhang said. “The reason why I say this is because I don’t think about my expectations a lot. I think about playing golf and shooting the best score I can. I never once think about where I finish, where I should finish. … The expectation for me winning did not even cross my mind. I was just playing my game.”

Rose Zhang is proving herself to be among best amateurs to grace the game of golf.

The Stanford sophomore won her second consecutive national title at the NCAA championships Monday, becoming the first women’s golfer to win multiple national titles and tying the NCAA record for wins in a season.

Not even all-time great Lorena Ochoa reached the same heights during her own very successful collegiate career at Arizona.

“I was really fortunate to play at the same time as Lorena Ochoa and I felt her greatness was unmatched,” Stanford coach Anne Walker said. “Rose Zhang really reminds me a lot of Lorena.”

Her second NCAA championship is just another trophy that Zhang can add to her shelf, which already includes the 2020 U.S. Women’s Amateur title, the 2021 U.S. Girls’ Junior title and the 2023 Augusta National Women’s Amateur title.

Zhang shot a 4-under 68 in the final round to clinch the victory. She finished at 10-under 278 over the course of 72 holes, tying Ochoa’s NCAA records for wins in a season (eight) and in a career (12). Her 12 wins also breaks the record at Stanford for men’s and women’s golfers, which had been held by Tiger Woods and three others.

Zhang had to come from behind on the final day, starting four shots back of the lead. But a bogey-free round helped propel Zhang to the title.

“When you’re chasing from behind, you really don’t know what is happening until everything’s completed,” Zhang said. “To come off of 18 and everyone saying you just won, that’s something that I wouldn’t really have imagined starting out the day.”