Koreans make up half of top 10 in women’s golf

A Japan-based Korean golfer has cracked the top 10 in the women’s world golf rankings this week, bringing the number of Koreans in the top 10 to five.

Ahn Sun-ju, the newly crowned top earner on the Japan LPGA Tour, jumped two spots to reach No. 9 in the world on the latest rankings released Tuesday.

This is her second career appearance in the top 10.

Ahn, the only player among the top 10 not playing on the U.S. tour, reached No. 10 in October.

Ahn’s had an impressive season, winning a total of four events on the Japan LPGA Tour this year.

She won the Dalkin Orchind Ladies’ Golf Tournament in Okinawa back in March and the Stanley Ladies Golf Tournament in mid-July.

Then she continued her hot streak in October with wins at the Sankyo Ladies Open and the Fujitsu Ladies tourney.

Shin Ji-yai retained the No. 1 spot for the fifth straight week with 11.50 points.

Suzann Pettersen of Norway, at 10.95 points, is second on the list.

Choi Na-yeon, a two-time winner in 2010, is in fifth place. Kim In-kyung is in seventh, followed by Kim Song-hee in eighth.

The rankings are determined based on field strength and on a golfer’s performance over a rolling two-year period, with the highest value assigned to the most recent 13 weeks.

The U.S. LPGA Tour season wraps up this weekend with the LPGA Tour Championship in Orlando, Florida.

Yonhap