Kajitani stands tall at Augusta National
07 Apr 2021
The Men
Performances of the week
Hall storms to Augusta win
Ryan Hall is one of a trio of headline winners from the United States who reach highs on this week’s World Amateur Golf Ranking®. The University of South Carolina player finished the Augusta Haskins Award Invitational at Forest Hills Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia with an 8-under-64, the low round of the 54-hole tournament, to tie for the lead on 14-under 202 with countryman Dylan Menante of Pepperdine University. Hall won in a playoff and jumps 31 rankings to 50th. Menante is 48 places better off in 84th.
Gabrelcik breaks into top 60
Nicholas Gabrelcik, who attends the University of North Florida, was the only player in The Hayt at Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida to return three sub 70 scores. He sandwiched a second round 68 between opening and closing 69s for a 10-under 206 and a two-shot victory. Gabrelcik advances 43 positions to 58th.
Shipp pilots steady course at Bulls Bay
NC State’s Benjamin Shipp improves eight spots to 32nd with victory in the Hootie at Bulls Bay. The U.S. player returned a couple of closing 67s to go with an opening 71 for an 11-under 205 and a one-shot win. It is Shipp’s second victory in as many starts following the Schenkel Invitational.
Top 20 movers
American Quade Cummins and Caolan Rafferty of Ireland both rise two places to 19th and 20th respectively.
Top 50 movers
American Luke Potter joins Hall in the top half century with a two-ranking rise to 49th.
Biggest ranking improvement
Sam Nicholson of the United States is the most improved player of the week with a jump of 1,355 positions to 1,010th after a 58th place finish in the Augusta Haskins Award Invitational.
The Women
Performances of the week
Kajitani stands tall at Augusta National
Tsubasa Kajitani breaks into the World Amateur Golf Ranking® top 15 for the first time thanks to winning the biggest title of her life, the Augusta National Women's Amateur Championship. The 17-year-old Okayama, Japan resident defeated American Emilia Migliaccio at the first hole of a sudden death playoff after they tied on 1-over-par 217 totals. Six players – world number one Rose Zhang (USA), Pauline Roussin-Bouchard (France), Ingrid Lindblad (Sweden), Emma Spitz (Austria), Rachel Heck (USA) and Karen Fredgaard (Denmark) – finished one shot behind in third place.
Kajitani arrived in Augusta as the world’s 26th best player. She is now 13th on the WAGR® table, while Migliaccio makes a three-ranking rise to 12th.
Roussin-Bouchard and Lindblad strengthen their respective holds on the third and fourth positions. Spitz edges up one spot to 15th. Heck and Fredgaard climb eight places to 25th and 31st respectively.
Bailey blooms in The Bruzzy
England’s Lianna Bailey practically ran away with The Bruzzy at Lantana Golf Club in Argyle, Texas. The Oklahoma State player cruised to an 8-shot victory thanks to an 11-under 205 aggregate after scores of 69, 66 and 70. Bailey wasn’t named to the 17-player Great Britain & Ireland Curtis Cup squad for the match against the United States at Conwy Golf Club, Wales 26-28 August, but her 35-ranking rise to 108th should catch the eyes of the selectors.
Top 20 movers
Kajitani is the only new top 20 player.
Top 50 movers
England’s Emily Price moves two places to 49th, while Jaravee Boonchant of Thailand jumps 24 positions to 50th.
Biggest ranking rise
Victory in the Copa Yucatan sees Sofia Clarisa Temelo Escalera of Mexico climb 631 places to 1,128th.