The rookie class of 2016 on the LPGA has big shoes to fill this season. Last season’s rookies were some of the most successful in LPGA history, accumulating five wins, spots on Solheim Cup teams and many more opportunities while in contention for titles.
South Korea’s In Gee Chun headlines this year’s rookies, as she holds a commanding lead in the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year standings. She has already recorded three runner-up finishes and a T3 in her first full season of LPGA membership. Last season, she won the U.S. Women’s Open as a non-member.
That type of performance at the top helps, but it will be difficult to match last season when Rookie of the Year Sei Young Kim won three times, Hyo Joo Kim won once and Minjee Lee once. American Alison Lee and England’s Charley Hull also earned spots on their respective Solheim Cup teams.
Here’s a look at this year’s current top 10 vs. how the Class of 2015 fared:
2016
| RANKING | NAME | POINTS | NOTEWORTHY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | In Gee Chun | 462 | Finishes of 6, T2, T2, 2, T3, T27, T13 this year |
| 2 | Megan Khang | 177 | T4 at JTBC Founders Cup, T7 at LOTTE Championship |
| 3 | Gaby Lopez | 159 | Has missed just two cuts in 10 starts; bound for Rio Games for Mexico |
| 4 | Annie Park | 91 | 2015 Epson Tour Player of Year had a T9 in Australia |
| 5 | Su Oh | 84 | Australian has made four of five cuts this season |
| 6 | Holly Clyburn | 45 | English rookie has shot 65, 68 and 69 this season |
| 7 | Bertine Strauss | 41 | South African opened season with three consecutive made cuts, including 69-67 start at JTBC Founders Cup |
| 8 | Lee Lopez | 39 | American started season with T31 at Pure Silk and 68-71 finish |
| 9 | Rachel Rohanna | 39 | American has made five of nine cuts this season |
| 10 | Marion Ricordeau | 32 | French rookie shot 66 in final round of LOTTE Championship to finish T23 |
2015
| RANKING | NAME | POINTS | NOTEWORTHY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sei Young Kim | 1,523 | Kim had three wins in 2015 and has won once this season |
| 2 | Hyo Joo Kim | 1,255 | Won once and finished in top 10 eight times in 2015; has won this year also |
| 3 | Minjee Lee | 1,163 | Australian has won this season and last; defends at Kingsmill this week |
| 4 | Ha Na Jang | 874 | Has already won twice in 2016 after four runners-up in 2015 |
| 5 | Alison Lee | 748 | Played on 2015 U.S. Solheim Cup team; third in Kingsmill last year |
| 6 | Ariya Jutanugarn | 636 | Thai player won two weeks ago; has made 20 of last 21 cuts |
| 7 | Sakura Yokomine | 561 | Finished T5 at 2015 Lorena Ochoa; four rounds in 60s at this year’s JTBC Founders Cup |
| 8 | Q Baek | 490 | Shot 64 and recorded a T5 last year; shot 65 in first round of 2016 |
| 9 | Wei-Ling Hsu | 458 | Shot 64 in final round of 2015 Yokohoma; placed 15th in Thailand this year |
| 10 | Charley Hull | 449 | Had 4-1-0 record for European Solheim Cup team, missed only one cut in 2015; three top-10s so far in 2016 |
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