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Zhang wins ANA Junior Inspiration

Los Angeles Gateway City Qualifier earns LPGA major exemption

Results

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. – Rose Zhang of Irvine, California, earned an exemption into the LPGA’s first major of the year, the ANA Inspiration, by winning the American Junior Golf Association’s ANA Junior Inspiration at Mission Hills Country Club. Zhang celebrated by jumping into Poppie’s Pond with 1996 ANA Inspiration champion Patty Sheehan who she competed with during the final round.

Zhang posted a tournament total of 7-under-par 209 to edge out second-round leader Ashley Menne of Surprise, Arizona, for her first AJGA Invitational win. The 14-year-old was one of 11 players who qualified for the ANA Junior Inspiration as a representative of one of All Nippon Airways’ North American Gateway Cities. As a Gateway City Qualifier, Zhang donated a $5,000 Gateway City Grant from ANA to the Southern California Golf Association’s junior golf program. In the past two years, ANA has donated $110,000 to state and local golf associations through the Gateway City Grant program.

“Winning the ANA Junior Inspiration as my first AJGA Invitational means the world to me,” said Zhang. “To win on the same course as the LPGA pros is surreal. Playing with Patty Sheehan today was amazing. We had the opportunity to play with an LPGA Legend and she was extremely supportive, played great golf and kept everyone calm. As an amateur, it’s beyond my dreams to play in an LPGA major.”

Zhang earned her victory in dramatic fashion, birdying No. 18 of the Dinah Shore Tournament Course to seal her victory.  At No. 8 in the Rolex AJGA Rankings, Zhang won the 2017 Junior PGA Championship. The 14-year-old was also the 2017 recipient of an Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant for financial assistance from the AJGA on behalf of ANA.

At the end of two special days of top-class golf, Mr. Hideki Kunugi, Senior Vice President of the Americas, ANA, added: “As the title sponsor of the ANA Inspiration and the Official Airline of the LPGA our vision for expanding the ANA Junior Inspiration came from a desire to create the most exciting tournament in junior golf with a once-in-a-lifetime prize. This weekend that vision is reality thanks to the world-class performances of our juniors and the support of the AJGA. Congratulations to Rose Zhang for her play and for the spirit in which she played the game. She is a great role model for fellow junior golfers. I hope this is just the start of her inspired journey and this experience adds more air under her wings to help her career take-off.”

Menne took second, her best AJGA Invitational finish, at 6-under-par 210. Three-time Rolex Junior All-American Yujeong Son of (South Korea) Norman, Oklahoma, finished third with a 54-hole total of 5-under-par 211. Amari Avery of Riverside, California, posted a 4-under-par 212 to finish fourth. Rachel Heck of Memphis, Tennessee, the AJGA’s reigning Rolex Junior Player of the Year, rounded out the top five at 1-under-par 215.

During the final round, juniors were paired with LPGA Legends. Each pairing group featured one Legend and two juniors. Juniors competed for the stroke-play title and participated in a fun competition among groups in a best-ball format with the Legends. Liselotte Neumann, 1988 U.S. Women’s Open champion, Kynadie Adams of Gallatin, Tennessee, and Hailey Borja of Lake Forest, California, took home the best-ball prize at 10-under-par 62.

The ANA Junior Inspiration, organized in partnership between the AJGA and ANA, annually challenges 48 AJGA invitation-only golfers for 54 holes of golf. The ANA Junior Inspiration is celebrating its second year on the AJGA schedule. Prior to its association with the AJGA, the ANA Junior Inspiration operated as an 18-hole qualifier for Southern California-based juniors to earn a spot into the major championship field.

 

About the ANA Inspiration

The ANA Inspiration is golf’s first major and one of the LPGA Tour’s most prestigious events. Previously known as the Kraft Nabisco Championship, the tournament was founded in 1972 by David Foster and Dinah Shore and earned the designation as a major championship in 1983. Contested at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif., since its inception, the ANA Inspiration holds the distinction of being the second oldest golf tournament continuously held at the same course. For many, the event is most distinguished by one of golf’s most beloved traditions: the champion’s leap into Poppie’s Pond, located adjacent to the 18th green. In 1988, the first champion’s leap into Poppie’s Pond was taken by Amy Alcott, and since has become one of the most anticipated and memorable traditions in golf. For more information on the ANA Inspiration, please visit ANAinspiration.com or call 760-834-8872. On social media, visit facebook.com/ANAinspiration, twitter.com/ANAinspiration or instagram.com/ANAinspiration.

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Testimonials

I had the pleasure to be around Rose Zhang the entire day today with her service day with East West Bank I am also an ambassador and navigate their golf sector for them. She is a joy to be around and no coincidence she has had your guidance all her life. Thank you for being such a great role model for all of us, and the future of golf. Although we have never worked together but I’ve known you since I was a junior golfer, and you’ve impacted me in ways you don’t know as well. Whether it’s a quick passing by on the range seeing me and a quick chat, or when you’re slammed with lessons and call me over to give me info about my swing. For all that and more you are the best.
Ben Lein
Ben Lein
Congratulations on the impact you are having on the game of golf by developing young talent in the women's game. Having played at the highest level and know the talent Rose brings to the LPGA, it goes without saying you are making a difference in the lives of those around you. I look forward to getting to know you more.
Lisa Strom,
Head Women's Golf CoachThe Ohio State University
As George’s student for the past 6 years, to say that he has helped my golf game is an understatement. When I first came to him when I was 11, his way of teaching really intrigued me with all the technology he had including Trackman, his side/front swing cameras, and his large TV’s. With the technology and his ability to analyze my swing effectively, my game has really improved greatly in each stage of junior and amateur golf. George has been a critical part of my development as a player both physically and mentally as he has provided me great advice not only in golf but in life as well. I am definitely extremely grateful and blessed to have him as a coach, mentor, and friend.
Rose ZhangNovember 2020
You are a fighter with a kind and big heart to create miracles in your players. We all should learn the life lessons, attitude and the tenacious fighting spirit that you have toward difficulties that you face. The fact that you will drive all the way to The Olympic Club, in San Francisco and back, proves that you are a real champion deserving of all the accolades, titles and trophies that your player’s win. I learned so much in so short a time while spending time with you at The Open. Your hard work ethics are a good path for me to follow. We, and all of those who you touch, owe you a deep, thank you, from the heart. If I had a coach like you, I would give everything I have to fight for victories. It was my honor to push your scooter at The Open.
Enbo Zhang
In this time of Thanksgiving, we want to express our appreciation for you. Working with you has been an amazing opportunity. We appreciate your high standards, your persistence, your encouragement, and your sense of humor.
Chloe Lam and Family
Shot 64 to finish 2nd stage Japan Q-school to finish 3rd!!! It's been a great month of golf for me so far thanks to George Pinnell!
Rory Hie2 time NCAA All-American (USC)
I have been working with George since I was 14. George has given me a tremendous amount of help with all parts of the game including the swing, short game and putting as well as the mental part of my game. George’s knowledge and experience gives him the ability to be direct and speak to what changes should be made to improve my performance. Most important, he loves what he does and he is driven by that love. He cares about, and checks scores, for every single tournament his players compete in, no matter how big or small the tournament is. The information and support he gives to his players is really valuable. George once told me that “a player doesn’t know how good a coach is, until they know how much he or she, cares.” He is really good at reading players minds, so be prepared to communicate. George and I have become good friends during our time spent together during the last few years.
Nicole ZhangNovember, 2020
My first lesson with George was 3 years ago. During my first few classes, George already corrected nearly unnoticeable but very crucial mistakes in just my set up that I had never even realized. His ability to recognize anything from small details to major mistakes has greatly improved the consistency of my swing. Furthermore, George has shown genuine care for my mental and wellbeing outside of lessons when I’m traveling for a golf tournament. He is always there to check in with how I am feeling before and after the rounds. Thanks to George, I am always able to find my confidence again and focus on my game. I am truly grateful for everything George has taught me in both golf and life.
Charissa ShangJunior Ranked Player
Coach George has been a critical factor for my daughter, Angie Zhang, in her golf pursuit. Before our friend referred us to Coach George, Angie was at a standstill and shot in the upper 80s and even 90s with consistent back pain after her freshman Fall season in December 2019. That was very frustrating since she started golf late and had only been playing for two and half years. George graciously took her in and then trained her with his life-lessons, his advanced technology equipment, skillful instructions, and star-student- role-model setting. George quickly put her back on track for progress and health. Within a little over half year, he was able to get Angie's confidence back and she started shooting within 70s which was previously very rare for her. We are so lucky to be working with a truly talented coach. We could not thank George enough for devoting some of his time to Angie's interest!
Yingxia CaoMother of Angie Zhang's
My daughter Alice ziyi Zhao is lucky and proud to have George Pinnell as her golf coach, she likes his teaching very much. she improved much under his good teaching and is on the way to succeed as a junior golfer step by step. His way of teaching golf is very professional, and he is very experienced and nice with good personality. He not only teaches Alice the skill of golf technology , but also he teaches her mental guidance and how to become a good player. He knows how to encourage golfers to face the challenges and he knows everything about the growth of a good junior golfer in the process. He also teaches parents some advanced ideas about golf and how to become a good parent of a good golfer. we learned a lot from him. Thank you for all to George Pinnell!
Elena LiangMother of Alice Ziyi Zhao
For us, Coach George Pinnell has been the best coach ever to help my daughter Alesia Barry succeed as a junior golfer. He is very experienced and is truly an amazing person. And not only does he teach my daughter golf skills, he also coaches her on mental guidance and how to be a better person. And as a parent I learn quite a bit from him as well. He has a very personal style where he has individual chats with her, where he listens to her as much as she listens to him. This is where I think some of the best teaching happens. I only wish we could see him more often.
Victoria ZhangMother of Alesia Barry
Over the past three years, George has been my coach/swing coach. I’ve struggled so much through my high school career, but George was always there to guide me in the right direction. He believes so much in his players and loves what he is doing to help junior golfers grow. Now I’m going to Seattle University on a golf scholarship, I can certainly say that I’ve grow a tremendous amount as an athlete in the golf game and as a wholesome individual because of his genuine care and teachings. Thanks for everything George.
Keisha Lugito
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