Merritt, BC's Sloan Makes Big Jump In Canada's Weekly Top 10
Merritt, BC's Roger Sloan (R) Shown Here At A Media Event At Bear Mountain Golf Resort In Victoria Last Year, Moved 84 Places Up The World Golf Ranking This Past Week - Image Credit Bryan Outram/British Columbia Golf
Courtesy Golf Canada
It was another stellar week for BC golfers in the Top 10 Weekly rankings as published by Golf Canada. Merritt's Roger Sloan and Victoria's Lawren Rowe both made signifcant gains in the OWGR while Abbotsford's Adam Hadwin, now solidly inside the Top 50 Professional Male Ranking in the world took some time off to get married ahead of his first appearance in next week's Masters at Augusta, GA.
Outside of the 'Top 10' some other very impressive gains by Canadians were also made, including Coquitlam's Euna Han whose victory in the CJGA Western Canadian Junior Championship in some very difficult conditions at Surrey's Northview GC vaulted her 315 places up the world standings for amateur women.
MEN’S TOP 10
Roger Sloan of Merritt, British Columbia made the biggest move among the Top 10, picking up 84 spots in the world rankings after finishing in a tie for fifth at the Web.com Tour’s Louisiana Open. It was his first top 5 result of the season and first top 5 finish since last August. The result was worth 2.73 world ranking points for the No. 8 ranked pro in Canada.
David Hearn picked up two places after finishing tied for 17th at the PGA’s Puerto Rico Open. The result was worth 1.69 world ranking points and was his fourth straight points-paying finish.
Outside the Top 10, Ryan Yip jumped 152 spots in the world rankings after finishing in a tie for ninth at the Web.com Tour’s Louisiana Open. It was his first top 10 result on the development tour since an eighth place finish last August. Previous to this, Yip had missed the cut in each of his last five Web.com Tour events dating back to last year. The result was worth 1.69 world ranking points and allowed him to go from No. 19 in Canada all the way up to No. 15.
Other notable results: No. 3 Graham DeLaet and No. 5 Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, BC, missed the cut at PGA’s Puerto Rico Open; No. 6 Brad Fritsch finished tied 44th at PGA’s Puerto Rico Open; No. 7 Corey Conners finished tied 45th at Web.com Tour’s Louisiana Open; No. 9 Austin Connelly missed the cut at European Challenge Tour’s Kenya Open;
Click here for Men’s Official World Golf Rankings.
WOMEN’S TOP 10
Jennifer Ha made the biggest move of the week, climbing 334 spots in the world rankings after finishing in a tie for 49th at the LPGA’s Kia Classic. It was the first weekend cut for the LPGA rookie from Calgary. The result enabled her to vault into the Top 10 in Canada, up to No. 9 from No. 14.
Anne-Catherine Tanguay jumped 39 places in the world rankings after finishing in a tie for second at the Symetra Tour event in California. It’s the second top-10 result on the development tour in as many starts for the Team Canada Young Pro Squad member.
Brittany Marchand gained 14 spots in the world rankings after finishing in a tie for 11th at the Symetra Tour event, her second top-20 result in two starts this year.
Outside the Top 10, Elizabeth Tong gained 64 spots in the world rankings after also finishing in a tie for 11th at the Symetra event.
Top ranked Canadian Brooke Henderson missed the cut at the Kia Classic, the first time in the last 20 events she has failed to advance to weekend play. The result did not affect her world standing as she remains the No. 13 ranked player in the world.
Other Notable Results: No. 2 Alena Sharp and No. 3 Maude-Aimee Leblanc all missed the cut at LPGA Kia Classic; No. 5 Augusta James missed the cut at Symetra Tour event; No. 6 Samantha Richdale of Kelowna, BC, finished tied for 25th at Symetra Tour event;
Click here for full Women’s Rolex World Rankings.
MEN’S AMATEUR TOP 10
Josh Whalen gained 150 spots in the world rankings after picking up his first career win, taking medalist honours at the Seahawk Invitational. The senior from Napanee, Ont., posted a personal best score of 9-under 207 in winning the tournament while setting a new individual tournament record in helping Kent State win its second tournament of the spring. Whalen was also named the Mid-American Conference Golfer of the Week. The result enabled Whalen to climb from No. 10 all the way up to No. 6 in the Canadian rankings.
No. 4 ranked Lawren Rowe picked up 32 spots in the world rankings after back-to-back wins, taking the individual title at the Battle of Primm. The third year player from Victoria, BC went wire-to-wire for his third victory of the year, winning by three strokes as he helped pace the Vikes to an eighth place team finish.
Vancouver, BC's Stuart Macdonald is set to fall off the amateur rankings table after qualifying for the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada circuit. Macdonald finished in a tie for ninth at the recently completed Q-school, which will guarantee him the first four starts of the new season. Macdonald will hold onto his amateur status at least until June, when the Mackenzie Tour kicks off in Vancouver. In the interim, he plans to enter a couple of high-profile amateur events in the U.S. and represent British Columbia at a tournament in Peru in April.
Biggest move: Kade Johnson of Yorkton, Sask., gained 502 spots in the world rankings after finishing tied for 23rd at the Bronco Invitational by RCB Bank.
Complete World Amateur Golf Rankings can be found here.
WOMEN’S AMATEUR TOP 10
Maddie Szeryk, the top ranked Canadian amateur in the world, improved on that standing with her victory at the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational. The Texas A&M junior led all three rounds for her first win of the season and fifth top 3 result of the year. The Golf Canada National Squad member climbs one spot to equal her career best world ranking showing to date.
No. 4 Michelle Kim from Surrey, BC, picked up six spots in the world rankings after finishing 19th at the Dr. Donnis event in Hawaii.
Jessica Ip jumped 24 spots in the world rankings after finishing tied for fifth at the BYU at Entrada Classic. It was only her third top 5 result of the season for the junior from Richmond Hill, Ont.
Sabrine Garrison re-enters the Top-10, gaining 80 places in the world rankings after finishing tied for 16th at the Clover Cup, her best finish of the year to date.
Honourable mention to Michelle Ruiz of Mississauga, Ont., who makes her debut in the amateur world rankings at No. 2,459 after winning the Peggy Kirk Bell Invitational. The junior at Nova Southeastern University was named the Sunshine State Conference Women’s Golfer of the Week after claiming her first career collegiate title – her fourth top 10 result of the season..
Biggest Move: Euna Han of Coquitlam, B.C. gained 315 spots in the world rankings after winning the Junior Girls title at the CJGA Western Canadian Junior Championship.
Complete World Amateur Golf Rankings can be found here.