In her first four matches at the U.S. Girls’ Junior, Rose Zhang trailed for a total of one hole (to Yana Wilson on the front nine of her quarterfinal match). That’s despite the oppressive heat and rolling terrain that make Columbia Country Club in Chevy Chase, Maryland, a tricky venue for the world’s best juniors this week.
But even Zhang, the reigning U.S. Women’s Amateur champion and the current world No. 1 amateur, isn’t immune to testing situations in USGA championships. By the time the 18-year-old reached her semifinal match against Paula Miranda on Friday afternoon, a rosy run to the final had been spoiled.
Miranda, the player from Mexico who had dispatched Alexa Pano – another favorite – in the Round of 16, led the entire front nine starting with a birdie on the first hole. The tide turned when Zhang won three consecutive holes from Nos. 11-13 but Miranda hardly gave in. A birdie at No. 17 tied the match again and it took two extra holes before Zhang advanced when Miranda made bogey.
“Before I tee’d off I was pretty nervous,” Miranda said of facing the game’s No. 1 player. “That kind of wore off as I kind of became more comfortable with my game throughout the course. . . . I’m glad that I took it this far actually. I’m proud of myself. She’s an amazing player, number one, so, yeah, of course I’m happy.”
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Zhang is now one step closer to a piece of history. Should she prevail in Saturday’s 36-hole final, she’ll be the first player to win the U.S. Women’s Amateur and the U.S. Girls’ Junior in that order.
Asked what she could take from Friday’s match that might help in the next round, Zhang went back to basics.
“I think it’s just a little bit of mechanics and a little bit of fatigue, but I just need to make sure my tempo is good to go,” she said. “I got all the – just have a great impact, and just simple things, fundamentals that I need to work on tomorrow on the range. That’s about it. You really can’t think that golf is super easy every single time.”
Zhang will meet Bailey Davis, a Maryland native who has advanced to the final from the No. 3 seed on the bracket. She dispatched Katie Li on the 18th hole of the semifinals. It was Davis’ first match to go all 18 holes since she needed an extra hole to take down Chloe Johnson in the first round.
“You know, I played in two of these before and I haven’t made the cut, so my goal was to make the cut,” said Davis, who has committed to play for the University of Tennessee beginning this fall. “Then I came into match play with no expectations, and I think that’s why I been doing is well. I haven’t said, ‘Oh, I want to make it to the round of 16 or round of 8.’ I came in with no expectations and I’m just doing the best I can at this point. I’m so excited.”
Regardless of what happens in the final, expect to see both players at the U.S. Women’s Amateur in August. That’s a familiar stage, of course, for Zhang, but for Davis it’s a first.
“I didn’t know that,” she said when informed her play this week earned her an exemption. “You just made my day.”
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