Ruoning Yin highlights the Moves of the Week by returning to No. 1 in the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings for the second time in her young career. Yin finished in a tie for 17th at the Maybank Championship to overtake Lilia Vu, who was not in the field last week in Malaysia and has held the top spot for the last five weeks.
Yin had spent two weeks at world No. 1 after a solo third-place finish at the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G in September, jumping ahead of two-time major winner Lilia Vu, who had held the position since August 14. Yin is the second player from the People's Republic of China to get to No. 1 since the inception of the Rolex Rankings in 2006. She joins Shanshan Feng, who was No. 1 for 23 weeks from November 13, 2017, until April 22, 2018.
The KPMG Women's PGA Championship winner has earned just over $2,600,000, joining six other players on the LPGA Tour who have surpassed $2 million in earnings this season. She sits third in the Rolex Player of the Year award, just 36 points behind current leader Celine Boutier. The People's Republic of China native is taking a much-needed week off ahead of the final two events of the season, but with a win AND a fifth-place finish or better she could have a chance to earn top honors.
Peiyun Chien Moves to Highest World Ranking in Her Career
Peiyun Chien made the second most impactful move in the Rolex Rankings, jumping up 38 spots to No. 123 in the world, the highest rank of her career, with a solo fifth at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club, her fifth top-10 this season. This finish ties her third-best result on Tour, which came earlier this year in September at the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G.
The Chinese Taipei native's move in the Rolex Rankings may have been impressive. However, her move in the Race to the CME Globe standings was more significant as Chien jumped from No. 53 to No. 45 and well inside the top 60 for an opportunity to play in the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship.
The 33-year-old has competed on the LPGA Tour since 2017 and has 10 career top-10 finishes with $1,383,511 in career earnings. Chien has made 13 cuts in 22 starts this season, earning five top-10 performances in addition to her top five in Malaysia, tying for fifth at the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G, finishing eighth-place at the ISPS Handa World Invitational presented by AVIV Clinics, tying for ninth at the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational with playing partner Yu-Sang Hou and tying for fourth at the LOTTE Championship presented by Hoakalei.
Hae Ran Ryu Keeps Lead in Rookie of the Year Race
Hae Ran Ryu holds the lead for the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year award, leading Grace Kim by 255 points and Yuna Nishimura by 410 points after her T45 showing at the Maybank Championship. Three players have a mathematical chance to win the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year award, but Ryu could clinch the honor with a 12th-place finish or better next week at The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican.
The Republic of Korea native became a Rolex First-Time Winner this season with her win at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G, defeating Linnea Strom by three shots after carding rounds of 64-64-66. Ryu has also earned five additional top-10 finishes this season, tying for seventh at the LPGA Drive On Championship at Superstition Mountain, tying for sixth at the JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro, finishing solo fourth at the Cognizant Founders Cup, finishing solo third at the Mizuho Americas Open and finishing eighth at the U.S. Women's Open.
The Epson Tour Graduate, Kim, became a Rolex First-Time winner this season with her win at the LOTTE Championship presented by Hoakalei in a playoff with Yu Jin Sung and Yu Liu. The trio of players finished at -12 overall, with Kim capturing the title in just her third start as an LPGA Tour Member. The Australian would need two wins for a chance at earning Rookie of the Year honors.
Japan native Nishimura sits fourth in the rookie standings and has an opportunity to take home Rookie of the Year honors with wins at the final three events of the LPGA Tour season. Nishimura has made 17 cuts in 22 starts this season, earning two top-10 performances of a tie for eighth at the Buick LPGA Shanghai and a tie for third at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G.
