Ranking Rise for History-Making Ding

Singapore: Ding Wenyi’s victory in the US Junior Amateur Championship not only proved to be a ground-breaking moment in the history of the United States Golf Association (USGA), but also boosted his standing in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR).

With his triumph at Bandon Dunes Golf Club in Oregon, the 17-year-old became the first mainland Chinese male golfer to win a USGA championship.

The three-time China Amateur Open champion and participant in the 2019 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) defeated American Caleb Surratt 3&2 in the 36-hole final. Eight down after 28 holes, Surratt staged a strong comeback only to fall short at the 34th hole.

Thanks to his win, Ding climbs four places to 16th in the WAGR, strengthening his position as the leading Chinese player in the standings, ahead of Jin Bo (34th) and two-time AAC winner Lin Yuxin (47th).

Among players from the Asia-Pacific region, Ding has closed the gap on the duo in front of him – Japan’s Keita Nakajima (first) and Thai Ratchanon ‘TK’ Chantananuwat (12th).

Another upwardly mobile Asian player is Singapore’s James Leow, who broke into the WAGR’s top-70 thanks to his victory in last week’s Pacific Coast Amateur Championship at Columbia Edgewater Country Club in Portland, Oregon.

The 25-year old, who has just finished his final year at Arizona State University, returned scores of 69-67-65 and a closing 68 for a 15-under 269 total to win by two shots. Already Singapore’s highest ranked amateur, Leow jumped 46 places and is now upto 68th.

Among the region’s females, Korean Kim Min-sol and Japan’s Baba Saki have both improved their WAGR standings in the wake of impressive successes.

Kim won the Korea Junior Championship to lift the Blueone Cup. Successive scores of 65 and a closing round of 71 for a 201 aggregate gave her a one-stroke win.

She climbs 44 places to 86th in the WAGR to become Korea’s seventh best player.

Meanwhile, victory in the Kanto Junior Championship in her homeland has taken Saki into the top-50.

She defeated compatriot Aihi Takano in a play-off after the pair tied on 210. A nine-place jump to 45th is Saki’s reward. Takano is 214 places better off in 149th.