Ruoning Yin will look to successfully defend her title this week just outside of Hollywood and is hoping to record her first win of the 2024 season. The People's Republic of China native has gotten off to a slow start this year, and while she currently holds the fourth spot in the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings, a win this week could kickstart her season and give the 21-year-old a chance to regain that top spot. The last time Yin was ranked No. 1 in the world was November 2023, returning to the top position in the world for the second time in her young career after tying for 17th at the 2023 Maybank Championship.
Yin has spent four weeks at world No. 1 throughout her young career. While this week's defending champion has yet to break into the top 10 this season, given her success on the LPGA Tour in three short years, it's only a matter of time until she finds her footing. The major champion has amassed ten career top 10s since becoming an LPGA Tour member in 2022, including wins last season at the FIR HILLS SERI PAK Championship and KPMG Women's PGA Championship, earning just over $3.1 million in career earnings.
Mone Inami Leads for Rookie of the Year
Mone Inami holds the lead in the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year award standings, leading Epson Tour graduate Auston Kim by 13 points despite a missed cut at the Blue Bay LPGA. While the Japan native has yet to find herself inside the winner's circle this season, Inami has earned one top-10 finish so far, a solo eighth at the LPGA Drive On Championship at Bradenton Country Club.
The Olympic silver medalist won her first LPGA Tour title at the 2023 TOTO Japan Classic in her home country last season. She didn't accept the immediate membership she was offered as part of her non-member victory, instead deferring status until 2024, making her a member of the 2024 LPGA Tour rookie class.
Plata Holds Early Lead in Season-Long Awards on Epson Tour
Valery Plata holds the No. 1 spot in the Epson Tour’s Race for the Card after a T23 finish in Longwood, Fla. The Colombian took the early lead in the standings with a victory at the season-opening Florida's Natural Charity Classic, and she currently sits 36 points ahead of Jessica Peng in the top spot.
Peng has made the biggest jump in the Race for the Card recently after capturing her first Epson Tour victory at the IOA Golf Classic presented by LPT Realty last week, going from unranked in the standings after a missed cut at the season-opening Florida’s Natural Charity Classic to No.2 with her victory at Alaqua Country Club.
Rounding out the top 15 in the Race for the Card standings are Ana Belec (No. 3), Lindsey McCurdy (No.4), Cassie Porter (No. 5), Jenny Bae (No. 6), Kum-Kang Park (No. 7), Dewi Weber (No.8), Heather Lin (No.9), Mariel Galdiano (No. 10), Kim Kaufman (No. 11), Nicole Lorup (No. 12), Alena Sharp (No. 13), Kiira Riihijarvi (No. 13) and Laura Wearn (No. 15).
The Race for the Card is a season-long points competition that sees Epson Tour members accumulate points in every official Epson Tour tournament with the ultimate goal of finishing in the top 15 in the point standings to earn LPGA Tour membership for the 2025 season. The point-based system, which is new on the Epson Tour this season, replaces the money-based system and will see points awarded to those who make the cut weekly. The 2024 season will also be the first year that Epson Tour athletes will vie for 15 LPGA Tour cards awarded after the season-ending Epson Tour Championship in Indian Wells, Calif.
Aon Risk Reward Challenge Update
Olivia Cowan and Rose Zhang share the top spot in the Aon Risk Reward Challenge, leading the challenge with a -1.500 average. Ally Ewing and 2024 Tour rookie Auston Kim are tied for third at -1.250, with Yu Liu rounding out the top five with a -1.125 average.
The Aon Risk Reward Challenge is a season-long competition across the LPGA Tour that highlights the game's best players as they navigate some of the most strategically challenging holes on Tour. Players will take their best two scores from each Challenge hole, with the winners having the best average score to par at the end of the regular season. The winner takes home the Aon trophy and a $1 million prize. Click here for the complete standings.
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