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Hovland goes from winning Memorial to caddying in US Open qualifier

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Viktor Hovland didn't have much time to celebrate the biggest win of his career. One day after winning the Memorial, he went 36 holes as a caddie in U.S. Open qualifying Monday.

Hovland, who won in a playoff Sunday at Muirfield Village and earned $3.6 million, was on the bag for Zach Bauchou, his former roommate at Oklahoma State.

This was not planned all that far in advance.

“We went to dinner on Saturday and I jokingly said, ‘Why don’t you come caddie on Monday?' He said, ‘Dude, I will.’ If he says he's going to do something, he'll do it,” Bauchou said.

NCAA champ Rose Zhang arrives on LPGA Tour with big hopes and leaves with a trophy

The first words from Rose Zhang after the 20-year-old Californian capped off one of the more remarkable 13-day stretches in golf were telling.

“What is happening?” she said.

More tantalizing is what happens next.

Hype rules the day in a society built around social media, and Zhang is one of the rare athletes who delivered. The Stanford sophomore won her second straight NCAA title and then 13 days later was awash in wonder when she won the Mizuho Americas Open in her professional debut.

Breezy’s Kuntz hasn’t met his match in three years

YOU’d be hard-pressed to remember the last time Braxton Kuntz lost a provincial golf tournament. That’s because it’s been nearly three years since the 19-year-old phenom out of Breezy Bend has failed to reach the winner’s circle.

And it’s possible his latest triumph was stamped by his best shot in the clutch.

Kuntz weathered the storm on and off the course to hold off defending champion, Elmhurst’s Marco Trstenjak, one-up to win the Manitoba match play championship at Glendale Golf and Country Club on Sunday.

Meanwhile, St. Charles’ Addison Kartusch defeated Clara Peake of the Golf Manitoba Public Players Club three-and-one to win the women’s championship, while Rossmere’s Blair Neal captured the senior men’s title after edging Bel Acres’ Dwayne Heinrichs one-up.

Rose Zhang win in her pro debut, Hovland wins Memorial in playoff

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) — Rose Zhang became the first player to win on the LPGA in her pro debut Sunday, capturing the Mizuho Americas Open with a par on the second playoff hole to beat Jennifer Kupcho and earn LPGA membership.

Zhang went from two-time NCAA champion to LPGA winner in a span of 13 days with a remarkable debut that lived up to the fanfare in the shadow of Manhattan.

She closed with a 2-over 74, missing an 8-foot par putt on the final hole at Liberty National to fall into a playoff with Kupcho (69).

On the first playoff hole, Zhang made an 8-footer for par and Kupcho made from 4 feet. Returning to the 18th again, Zhang hit a long approach to 8 feet for a chance at birdie. Kupcho came up short, went just over the back and made bogey. Zhang two-putted for the win.

NCAA champ Rose Zhang 1st LPGA Tour winner in pro debut in 72 years, wins Mizuho in playoff

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) — Rose Zhang lived up to all the pre-tournament hype as the next great women's golfer — at least in her first week as a pro.

The two-time NCAA champion became the first player in 72 years to win on the LPGA Tour in her pro debut, capturing the Mizuho Americas Open with a par on the second playoff hole against Jennifer Kupcho on Sunday.

Zhang arrived on the LPGA Tour with the most fanfare since Michelle Wie West in 2005, and she delivered in the shadow of the Big Apple.

“I just can’t believe it,” Zhang said. “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.”

Hovland delivers clutch putts, wins Memorial in playoff

DUBLIN, Ohio (AP) — Viktor Hovland was happy with his three PGA Tour victories, even if they were at resort courses that were soft and susceptible to firing at flags. He wanted a win on American soil, where par was at a premium, and he got every bit of that Sunday at the Memorial.

Two shots behind and facing the three hardest holes at Muirfield Village, Hovland set his sights on a score instead of the leader, Denny McCarthy, and then delivered his best stuff of the day.

Hovland holed a 30-foot birdie putt — the only birdie of the day at No. 17 — around two par saves for a 2-under 70 that got him into a playoff, and then he beat the hard-luck McCarthy with a seven-foot par to win the Memorial.

His previous three wins were twice at Mayakoba on the Gulf coast of Mexico and once in Puerto Rico. This victory came on conditions so difficult that even Jack Nicklaus was stunned to feel how firm the greens were when he stepped on the 18th to congratulate Hovland.

Canada's Alena Sharp wins Epson Tour event

NEW BERN, N.C. - Hamilton's Alena Sharp has won the second Epson Tour title of her career.

Sharp won the Champions Fore Change Invitational by two strokes on Sunday.

Gigi Stoll of the United States finished second at 15-under overall at Taberna Country Club.

Sharp also won the Visit Mesa Gateway Classic on what was then known as the Symetra Tour in 2014.

Morikawa withdraws from final round of Memorial with back spasms

DUBLIN, Ohio (AP) — Collin Morikawa withdrew from the final round of the Memorial on Sunday because of back spasms, keeping him from a chance to win for a second time at Muirfield Village.

Morikawa had shot 68 in the third round and was two shots out of the lead. He said he was doing pre-round exercises when a muscle in his lower back gave out.

“We were doing some like reflex stuff, trying to reach down and try to pick something up like quick and low. Went after it weird,” he said. “Literally have never had this in my life. I’ve hurt my back briefly before, but like nothing has been this bad, especially never warming up.”

He said he tried hitting about 10 balls on the range and he hit a clunky 9-iron that went only about 95 yards. He realized that wouldn't work at Muirfield Village.

Spectacular debut: Rose Zhang shoots 66 to take lead into Mizuho Americas Open finale

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) — Much was expected of Rose Zhang when she turned professional last week, and she is already delivering.

The two-time NCAA champion moved into position to win in her pro debut, shooting a 6-under 66 on Saturday to take a two-shot lead into the final round of the Mizuho Americans Open.

“I’ve been in this position before, but I haven’t been in this position as a professional, since this is my first week, so I’m really just learning everything that I could,” Zhang said. “Tomorrow, I’ll be just trying to figure out what it feels like to be in the final group, navigate my way through, and I’m sure by the end of the day I’ll be able to, you know, just build my character more.”

The former Stanford star had six birdies in a bogey-free round on a raw, overcast day at Liberty National in jumping to the top of the leaderboard. It's nothing new for the 20-year-old who won 12 of 20 events in her two years in college, with many viewing it as a sign of things to come.

McIlroy tied for lead at Memorial by making fewest mistakes

DUBLIN, Ohio (AP) — Rory McIlroy felt like he was hanging on for dear life Saturday at the Memorial. He had to scramble for bogey to start the back nine. He went five holes without hitting a green. And all the while, he never really lost ground.

When he had to scramble for par on the fourth-easiest hole at Muirfield Village, the par-5 11th, he said he told caddie Harry Diamond he only wanted to try to break 70.

McIlroy wound up with a 2-under 70. That was enough to take him four shots behind at the start of the day to a share of the lead going into Sunday.

“That's what happens when conditions are like this,” McIlroy said. “You just have to hang on.”

Minjee Lee shoots 8-under 64, shares 2nd-round lead with Cheyenne Knight at Liberty National

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) — Minjee Lee matched the tournament best with an 8-under 64 for a share of the lead Friday in the LPGA Tour's weather-delayed Mizuho Americas Open.

Cheyenne Knight had a 68 in the inaugural event to join Lee at 7-under 137 atop the tightly bunched leaderboard that features five top-10 players and promising newcomer Rose Zhang.

Play was suspended late in the afternoon for 1 hours, 47 minutes because of dangerous weather conditions near Liberty National and the last groups barely finished before darkness on the course adjacent to the Hudson River with a spectacular view of the New York City skyline and the Statue of Liberty.

The fifth-ranked Lee, from Australia, birdied eight of the first 12 holes in a bogey-free round that moved her from 55th to the top spot. Her score was nine shots better than her opening round.

McIlroy highlights Canadian Open field

TORONTO - Rory McIlroy will look for a record third straight Canadian Open title when the national golf championship tees off next week.

The world No. 3 was part of the full field of competitors announced Friday by Golf Canada and event sponsor RBC for the June 8-11 PGA Tour event at Toronto's Oakdale Golf and Country Club.

McIlroy won the Canadian championship in 2019 and defended his title in 2022 after the event returned from a two-year hiatus brought on by COVID-19 restrictions.

Reigning U.S. Open champion and world No. 8 Matthew Fitzpatrick and world No. 17 Tyrell Hatton are also in the field, along with European stars Tommy Fleetwood (world No. 23), Shane Lowry (world No. 26) and Justin Rose (world No. 28).

Suh, Matsuyama ride hot putts on steamy day at the Memorial

DUBLIN, Ohio (AP) — Justin Suh signed for a 6-under 66 at the Memorial and then made a few stops to speak with the media. His putter stayed with him the entire time, which probably was wise.

The way it behaved Friday, when he holed eight putts from the 10-foot range or longer, he might not want to let it out of his sight.

Suh made one last birdie on the 18th that gave him a one-shot lead over past champion Hideki Matsuyama, with two-time Memorial champion Patrick Cantlay another shot behind.

“On the first hole, I made a 12-footer for par on the fringe. I just kind of kept the confidence with the putter going,” Suh said.

Riley leads, Canada’s Hadwin tied for 3rd after tough day at Memorial

DUBLIN, Ohio (AP) — Davis Riley opened with a 67 at the Memorial to finish atop the leaderboard after the opening round for the second straight year. And that's where the similarities end.

Riley birdied three of his last four holes Thursday afternoon when the turf was firm and the wind was swirling and the bad breaks led to big numbers, as Rory McIlroy found out.

Riley was in a six-way share of the lead last year. On Thursday, he led by one over Matt Wallace.

Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., was the leading Canadian, tied for third with a 69.

NCAA champ Rose Zhang makes impressive LPGA Tour debut in Mizuho Americas Open near NYC

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) — Two-time NCAA champion Rose Zhang made her professional debut Thursday on the LPGA Tour, a solid opening round in the Mizuho Americas Open.

The 20-year-old from Stanford who dominated the women's amateur rankings for more than two years shot a 2-under 70 at Liberty National in the shadow of New York. The Californian was five shots off the lead held by Lauren Hartlage, who shot a career-best 65.

Aditi Ashok, the first player from India on the tour, was at 67 in a tournament where the focus shifted to Zhang last weekend with her announcement she was turning pro.

Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand and Stephanie Meadow of Northern Ireland had 68s.

Florida beats Georgia Tech 3-1 to win 5th NCAA men’s golf championship

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Florida put itself in difficult positions all season, none more dire than its deep hole against Florida State in the national semifinals.

The experienced Gators consistently found ways to dig their way out and it helped them when things got tight Wednesday in the championship match.

Individual NCAA champion Fred Biondi beat Hiroshi Tai 1 up with a par on the 18th hole and Florida won its fifth men's national golf title with a 3-1 victory over Georgia Tech at Grayhawk Golf Club.

“These guys are extremely tough and that’s what champions are,” Florida coach J.C. Deacon said. “They find a way to stay positive and to stay in the moment and keep doing the right things.”

Golf Manitoba season tees off with match-play championship

Addison Kartusch stood on the opening tee at the Manitoba junior women’s golf championship nearly a year ago in search of a breakthrough performance. And shine she did, winning the title by 13 strokes at St. Charles Country Club, her home course.