Clifton - Rose Zhang started her 2024 Cognizant Founders Cup with a chip-in birdie on the first hole and things just got better from there.
After completing a bogey free round, Zhang sits atop the leaderboard at Upper Montclair Country Club with a 9-under-par 63. Zhang's nine birdie day included six on the front nine, including a string of four in a row on holes six through nine. Additionally, Zhang's 9-under is her lowest round as a professional, and it also ties the 18-hole tournament scoring record at Upper Montclair Country Club set by Atthaya Thitikul, Madelene Sagstrom and Minjee Lee two years ago.
"It was almost just auto-command kind of golf," Zhang said of her day. "I feel like in the last couple weeks it's been a little bit difficult. I've been struggling a little bit with the golf swing and gaining confidence in my preparation."
Zhang added, "But, going into this week I kind of let it all go; let the expectations go a little bit more. I was able to free myself up a little bit, which was really nice to see some shots go in, especially on the greens. I was able to get some putting momentum in, so it was really nice."
Behind Zhang, Sagstrom sits in second after posting the top score of the morning tee times with a -7. Sagstrom's scorecard included a bogey, however six birdies, and an eagle on 12, helped to secure the Swede the second spot after day one.
"I came off hot," Sagstrom said of her first-round performance. "I had a fairly good chance on ten, which was my first hole. Georgia (Hall) made a really long putt on 11 and then I made one right after her. I was like, okay, that's a nice way to start. Hit a great second shot into 12 and then I holed another long putt."
Rounding out the top three, Narin An, Stephanie Kyriacou, and Leona Maguire each carded a 66 to finish their opening rounds at 6-under-par. Kyriacou and Maguire each had early round bogies but also had seven birdies to finish their day in third. Meanwhile, An, like Zhang, carded nine birdies, however, three bogies would keep her three strokes behind the leader.
Nelly Korda, who is looking for her sixth win in six straight starts, finished her day in a tie for 18th at -3, and, also of note, Wayne, N.J. native, Marina Alex finished her day tied for eighth at -4.
The Founders Cup continues, during what is expected to be a wet, Friday with the first golfers teeing off at 7:15 a.m.
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