In the relatively small but elite orbit of college golf, one name shines particularly bright: Rose Zhang. A student at Stanford University in California, she has emerged as a force. As with most pro athletes, the 20-year-old’s passion for the game started from a young age, and when it came time to go to college, her dedication to the sport only grew. Notoriously rigorous, Stanford’s environment provided her with an opportunity to excel both academically and athletically. And, even as she’s gone pro, she is committed to finishing her degree.
Zhang’s impressive victories—including a triumph at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur and the PAC-12’s individual title—showcase her dedication to excellence. As one of Glamour’s 2023 College Women of the Year, she sat down with American golf legend Michelle Wie West to discuss leadership, being a role model, her strong advocacy for financial aid, and even her go-to beauty products. Together they explore the values that drive her both on and off the course.
Michelle Wie West: First off, congratulations! What’s the one thing that you wish more people knew about student-athlete life?
Rose Zhang: That it’s very taxing on the body and the mind. To be able to wake up in the morning for 6:30 a.m. workouts, and then spend the day going to classes before going to practice, and playing 18 holes for qualifying rounds. No matter what sport, every day has a full schedule. There’s not a single time where we can just sit down and relax for a couple hours, take a nap when we really want to. The sacrifice that we put into our daily lives is really unparalleled.
I completely agree. Can you share a defining moment in your athletic career that propelled you to where you are today?
There are so many. I can’t even begin to describe it. But going back to the 2020 US Women’s Amateur event, where I won against Gabby Ruffles in a 38-hole match—that was very defining for me. That was where my career really started to shift toward not only being a good junior player but playing up against people who are older, people who are about to turn professional. And that entire week was really taxing. Playing 11 rounds a week is not something that’s done very often, and mentally, physically, you have to be at your A-game. That ultimately shifted me toward the mindset of: I can do bigger and better things.
Damn, I didn’t realize you won the US Women’s Amateur in 38 holes. So let’s talk about what empowers you. What’s the one thing that makes you feel empowered on and off the field?
My inner circle of friends on campus and off campus. Regardless of how I do, they treat me the exact same. And especially back on campus, I’m a part of this Bible community group, and every time I come in, they don’t know what I’m doing. They have no idea, but we all share the same faith, and we all are working toward the same goals of becoming better.
Golf, obviously, as you know, is a crazy mental sport. There’s tons of ups and downs. In those moments of downs, how do you overcome feelings of inadequacy?
Shifting gears or having a mindset of unconditional love and kindness for yourself is very important. Easier said than done. But being unconditionally patient for yourself is something I think every really good athlete tends to be able to do really well.
You talk about your village a lot. What’s the best piece of advice that your friends in college have given you?
I feel like I’m pretty naturally humble by nature, but they definitely keep me grounded. They love to tease me, and I love that about them. It makes my environment a lot more free and a lot more authentic. Yes, I’m going to school and I’m playing professional golf, but they care about my well-being and health a lot. So for them to say, “Hey, take a step back. Take care of yourself, don’t burn yourself out,” I think that’s the biggest piece of advice that everyone has really given me, and that allows me to slow down somewhat and prevent myself from really spiraling into overdrive and early burnout.
What advice would you give to incoming freshmen, especially those who want to be college athletes like yourself, about finding their place and thriving in the new environment?
I would encourage them to put themselves out there a little bit. When you’re on campus, everyone wants to get to know each other, friends, all that. I was very intimidated by everyone, but being able to step out of your comfort zone a little bit and understand how those around you are all in the same boat. I think those are the weeks that you really understand how you operate and how you want your friend group to be. But you can’t know unless you put yourself a little bit out there. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. That’s kind of what college is for, right before you head out to the real world. It’s a stepping stone.
It seems like you adjusted really well, really fast. You found your footing with your team. Your team members are amazing, but I’m sure that you’ve experienced some challenges, especially in the early part of your college career. How did you overcome those hurdles to get you to where you are right now?
The biggest challenge for me was managing my body. Everyone who comes into college and is an elite athlete knows how to play their sport, and they know how to at least train. They have a system; they have a regimented schedule. But once you’re on campus, things throw you off a little bit more. You have to balance school. It’s not just a place where you can simply play your sport and be done with the day. You still have to go back and study, and you still have to socialize. So balancing all those things requires yourself to not only have good time management, but also you have to take care of yourself. And I did well in the fall, but then I think winter really hit me hard where I did everything that I could to a 100%, and my body was fatigued. I had people around me, especially Coach Walker and my team, who were there to tell me, “Hey, you’re doing a lot. I think you should take a step back.” So I created a daily schedule to allow me to input a bit of rest, doing nothing, maybe having a really good lunch or a good meal with friends.
I wholeheartedly agree with that. So now I want to ask you some fun questions.
Yay.
What’s your go-to pump-up song before you tee off?
The remix version of “Pumped Up Kicks.”
What’s your go-to beauty essentials?
Neutrogena. I’ve been really sensitive to different types of sunscreen, and a lot of moms have asked me how I’m not tanning as much on the face. And all I can say is Neutrogena 70 SPF.
Favorite class you’re taking right now.
I took a communications class, and it was taught by this professor who would be skateboarding in the middle of class and talk about random topics related to the world, obviously, and related to the subject itself, but it would be the most ridiculous conversations ever. One of my most enjoyable classes.
What’s the one thing that really surprised you about Stanford?
That everyone’s so high-achieving but, at the same time, human. Everyone’s so smart. They already have start-ups. They achieve so much, but at the end of the day, everyone’s kind of on the same route. They don’t know what they’re doing for the most part, and they all work hard. So I think everyone being very personable was pretty shocking to me.
Thank you. Go play your practice round now!
