Kim clings on at Harder Hall
06 Jan 2021
The Men
Performances of the week
Huff hits new heights
Greysen Huff had much to celebrate when the calendar turned over to 1 January 2021. He began the new year as the Patriot All-America Invitational champion.
The Idaho native returned opening scores of 65 and 70, and had five birdies in a closing 67 to post an 8-under 202 at the Wigwam Resort in Litchfield Park, Arizona. Huff, in his final year at Auburn University, ran out a two-shot winner over England’s Daniel Bradbury. Huff attains his highest position on the World Amateur Golf Ranking® with a jump of 48 positions to 65th. Bradley also reaches a new high with a 96-place move to 102nd.
Wall goes into Orlando overdrive
Jack Wall began the final round of the Orlando International Amateur Championship at Orange County National three strokes off the lead. That also turned out to be his margin of victory when he stepped off the 18th green. Wall, from Brielle, New Jersey, returned a second consecutive 67 to go with his opening 65 to post a 15-under 199 tally to add the Orlando crown to the Metropolitan New York Amateur title he won in August. Wall, who plays college golf for the University of South Carolina, jumps 81 rankings to 319th.
Ewart wins Winter Classic
AJ Ewart achieves a personal best WAGR® position with a jump of 127 places to 367th by winning the GCAA Amateur Series Winter Classic. The Canadian won by a shot with a 54-hole aggregate of 200 after returning scores of 66, 66 and 68 at Talking Stick Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Biggest ranking improvement
American Will Dickson makes the biggest move with a climb of 1,063 spots to take over the 2,000th position. Dickson makes the improvement after finishing fourth in the Orlando International Amateur Championship. There are no new top 20 or 50 entries to start the year.
The Women
Performances of the week
Kim clings on at Harder Hall
Gina Kim looked set to cruise to victory in the Harder Hall Women's Invitational after 36 holes. The Duke University student raced to an eight-shot lead with scores of 67 and 69 around Harder Hall Golf Club in Sebring, Florida.
A third round of 78 opened the door for the rest of the field. Chloe Kovelesky stepped through it. The Florida native opened with an 80 but returned consecutive 70s and a closing 68. However, North Carolina resident Kim did enough over the opening two rounds that she could afford a closing 73 and still better Kovelesky by a stroke thanks to a 1-under 287.
Kim climbs 13 places on the World Amateur Golf Ranking® to 40th, while Kovelesky makes a 284-ranking rise to a career-high 1,137th.
Wilson joins WAGR® table in style
American Yana Wilson makes a dramatic appearance on the WAGR® table by winning the Joanne Winter Arizona Silver Belle Championship. The 14-year-old from Henderson, Nevada turned up at Briarwood Country Club in Arizona without any WAGR® status, but left with a ranking of 2,645th after running out a two-shot winner. Wilson scored 71, 72 and 71 to post the only 54-hole score under par, a 2-under 214.
Chapelet breaks into top 80
Elodie Chapelet breaks into the top 80 for the first time with a two-ranking rise to 78th after triumphing in the GCAA Amateur Series Winter Classic at Talking Stick Golf Club in Arizona. The French player won by nine shots after scores of 67, 68 and 69 gave her a 204 aggregate.
Top 50 movers
Gina Kim is the only new top 50 player in a week with no new top 20 entrants.
Biggest ranking improvement
Sunny Tianlang Wang moves 444 places to 2,691st, a new high. The English player won the BJGT Summer Cup last year, and ended 2020 runner-up in the GCCT-China Junior Golf Club Championship.
