Kim Returns To Top 20 in the World
Last week at the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic, Sei Young Kim put on one of the most incredible performances in the history of women’s golf. The Korean recorded rounds of 63-65-64-65 to set a new 72-hole scoring record by finishing the week at 31-under par. Kim won by nine strokes ahead of her closest competitor, Carlota Ciganda. With her victory, Kim climbed six spots in the Rolex Rankings to No.20 in the world. The seven-time winner on the LPGA Tour has been ranked as high as No.4 in the world in May 2016.
Rookie Leaps in Rankings
Emma Talley, a rookie this season on the LPGA Tour, made the biggest move of the week with a jump of 29 spots to No.101 in the Rolex Rankings. Talley finished T3 at the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic, which is her best career finish on the LPGA Tour. The rookie began the 2018 season ranked at No.357 in the world and, now at No.101, has reached the highest ranking of her career. With two top-5 finishes this year, Talley is working to close the gap on Jin Young Ko in the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year standings. Ko jumped out to the early lead in the rookie race with her victory in February at the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open and has only continued to pull away from the pack. Ko continues to lead the season-long race with 814 points, 484 points ahead of Talley with 330 points.
Jutanugarn Continues Domination
Ariya Jutanugarn finished T15 last week in Wisconsin to maintain her position at No.3 in the Rolex Rankings. Her consistency week after week has also kept her at the top of nearly every season long race on the LPGA Tour. Jutanugarn continues to lead the money list with $1,797,765 earned in 18 starts. She’s more than $850,000 ahead of Nasa Hataoka at No.2 on the list. Jutanugarn also leads the Race to the CME Globe, 794 points ahead of her sister, Moriya, at No.2 in the standings, which could make for an interesting scenario come the end of the season if both sisters remain in the hunt for the $1 million-dollar prize. Ariya Jutanugarn also leads the Player of the Year standings, 56 points ahead of Sung Hyun Park, who shared the award last year with So Yeon Ryu. Jutanugarn also leads the Tour in eagles, birdies, top 10s and Putting Average.
Other Notable Moves
Bronte Law continues her climb in the Rolex Rankings. After jumping 14 spots following the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Law moved up another six spots to No.68 in the world with her sixth-place finish at the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic. Law recorded rounds of 67-68-68-67 to pick up her third top 10 of the year.
Dani Holmqvist’s T7 finish in Wisconsin was her first career top 10 on the LPGA Tour. Her solid finish earned her a jump of 37 spots to No.162 in the Rolex Rankings, which is the highest of her career. Holmqvist began the year ranked No.306.
Peiyun Chen, who also finished T7 last week, fired an 8-under par, 64 on Sunday to pick up her second top 10 of the year. With her finish, the 2017 rookie climbed 25 spots to No.164 in the world, the highest ranking of her career.
)
)
)
)
