Singapore: Ahead of what will likely be her final appearance in the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP), Fiona Xu has broken into the top-20 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) for the first time.
On the back of her second-place individual finish in the 43rd Queen Sirikit Cup in the Philippines last week, New Zealander Xu has risen two spots to 20th in the WAGR.
The 18-year-old will be aiming to progress further in the next month during which she’ll line up in the fifth edition of the WAAP at the Singapore Island Country Club and the fourth Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA).
“They’re big tournaments and I’m looking forward to them,” said Xu, who is planning to relinquish her amateur status in August and take part in this year’s LPGA Tour Qualifying School.
Based on her performances in the past 12 months, there’s every reason to believe that a bright future in the professional game lies ahead for Xu.
With her victory in the 2022 Australian Women’s Amateur Championship, Xu became the first New Zealand winner of that championship since Lydia Ko in 2012.
Later last year, Xu reached the quarter-finals of the US Girls Junior, finished 10th in both the Queen Sirikit Cup in Singapore and Women’s Australian Open, represented New Zealand in the Women’s World Amateur Team Championships in France and reached match play in the US Women’s Amateur. At Siam Country Club in November, Xu fired a closing 67 to earn a share of 13th place in the WAAP.
She started 2023 with a third-place finish in the Women's Australian Master of the Amateurs and a tie for sixth in her title defence in the Australian Women's Amateur.
Last month, she placed sixth in the Women’s PGA Tour Australasia’s Vic Open before claiming second spot in the Queen Sirikit at Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club.
Now, Xu’s focus is on finishing her amateur career in a blaze of glory in Singapore and Augusta.
Also making a rise in the latest WAGR is Indian Avani Prashanth.
After sweeping to a 10-stroke individual victory at the Queen Sirikit Cup, the 16-year-old from Bangalore has soared 16 spots to 77th in the standings – her highest ever position.
Among other players to make significant progress in the WAGR after outstanding performances in Manila were Korean Yoo Hyun-jo (up 11 places to 56th), Rianne Malixi of the Philippines (up 19 to 118th), Hong Kong’s Arianna Lau (up 34 to 190th), Thai Achiraya Sriwong (up 41 to 267th) and Indonesians Elaine Widjaja (up 35 to 375th) and Holly Halim (up 41 to 385th).
Also trending upwards were Tiffany Huang Ting-hsuan of Chinese Taipei, the defending WAAP champion (up four to 33rd), Korean Kim Min-sol (up one to 15th) and the Chinese duo of An Tong (up three to 132nd) and Ni Zixin (up two to 193rd).
Meanwhile, Mirabel Ting’s status as Malaysia’s third best amateur on the WAGR improved after victory in the Moon Golf Invitational over the Suntree Country Club Classic Course in Melbourne, Florida.
The University of Augusta player defeated American Leila Raines in a play-off after the pair had tied on 13-under-par 203. Ting makes a 58-ranking rise to 62nd putting her third in the Malaysian pecking order, behind Ashley Lau Jen Wen (31st) and Jeneath Wong (54th).
