Stanford falls but Zhang remains on top — Must-click women’s golf links
By Addie Parker
The IX: Golf Thursday with Addie Parker, Feb. 16, 2023
Happy Golf Thursday, my friends! While the LPGA remains on its mini-hiatus (only until next week), the other branches of the golf family tree have been busy. This past week — the most electrifying event on the PGA Tour schedule, the Waste Management Open, proved yet again that golf can be as loud as an NFL game.
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From WMPO, to the Netflix series Full Swing being released yesterday, to Tiger’s return at Riviera — the PGA Tour has been busy!
(Shoot me a message if you have already watched the series and tell me your thoughts!!!)
Meanwhile, the LET has been holding things down in Kenya and Morocco for its first two events of the season, and is currently in Saudi Arabia for the Aramco Saudi Ladies International Presented By Public Investment Fund.
Over the course of the past year, I’ve expressed how deeply complicated the relationship between women’s golf and Saudi Arabia is. A country that violates the human rights of the women that live there can’t exactly be the face of women’s golf — or at least it shouldn’t be. But this week, the prize money sits at $5 million, matching what the men made at the Saudi International a couple weeks ago and the praise is coming from a lot of different places.
Enough about the pros, with school back in session, the college golf spring season is underway and we are inching closer to May, meaning that college golf playoffs will be here before we know it.
Back in December, the NCAA announced that starting this year more teams will be eligible to play in the national championship, moving from 24 teams to 27 teams.
As of now, the top three head runners Stanford, Wake Forest, and Oregon are locked into a pretty tight battle to see which team will be the team to beat. See the full ranking list as well as the full NCAA schedule here.
Earlier in the week, Stanford and Oregon went head to head at the T. Hession Regional Challenge in Palos Verdes Estates, CA. Despite the fact that the Cardinal was without both Rachel Heck and Brooke Seay during the event, as its No. 2 and No. 3 golfers were out due to injuries — Stanford managed to hold a two shot lead after the first two rounds.
But Oregon had themselves a day. The Ducks fired a round of 4-under on Tuesday to pick up the win, five shots clear of Stanford. The difference came down to the end, as the Cardinal was a combined 12-over on its final two holes while the Ducks were even par.
But despite Oregon rallying a win, and Stanford falling short — the best player in college golf does what she does best…win.
Rose Zhang fired rounds of 68, 68 and 71, to win three strokes better than second. She has now won four times in five events this season. In 15 career events, Zhang has eight wins, 12 top-two finishes, 13 top-five marks and 14 top-10s. In 46 career rounds, Zhang has amassed a 69.4 career scoring average, playing 23 rounds in the 60s and 40 at even-par or better.
Zhang is now tied with Rachel Heck and Mhairi McKay for second all-time at Stanford for career victories, and just one shy of Andrea Lee’s school record of nine.
Zhang has received exemption into the LPGA’s DIO Implant LA Open at Palos Verdes Golf Club from March 30-April 2 for her victory, which happens to be played at the same time as the Augusta National Women’s Amateur — it’ll be interesting to see what she decides to do.
This week in women’s golf
If you have links you wish to share for Golf Thursday, sources for golf news, or want to talk about anything at all, you can email me at addieparker25@gmail.com ! Discussion of any kind is always welcome…I mean it…MESSAGE ME!
LPGA News
Ann Gregory: “The Queen of Negro Women’s Golf”
LPGA announced today a change in cut sizes for LPGA Tour events
Here’s how to qualify for the first U.S. Women’s Open ever held at iconic Pebble Beach
Former No. 1 Stacy Lewis tabbed to lead Team USA in back-to-back Solheim Cups in 2023 and 2024
Citing backlash, LPGA star ends sponsorship with Saudi Arabia’s Aramco
LET News
Lydia Ko presser at the Aramco Saudi Ladies International
Epson Tour News
Epson’s season debut, the Florida’ Natural Charity Classic
Other News
These 9 Black Entrepreneurs and Creatives Are Changing Golf
Five at The IX: 5 Black-owned golf apparel brands
Continuing on our celebration of Black History Month, here are a list of five Black owned apparel brands blending streetwear with traditional golf attire. Enjoy!
EASTSIDE GOLF
TRAP GOLF
GOLFER BRO
BLACKBALLED GOLF
YOOTO’PEA GOLF
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