By: Max Bechtoldt
Just over halfway through the LPGA season, the rookie of the year race has really begun to take shape. At the current moment, three players in particular have separated themselves from the rest of the pack. See how their seasons have played out below:
1. MAO SAIGO
Japan’s Mao Saigo almost got her first victory at the CPKC Women’s Open last week, mostly thanks to an incredible third round 61 that put her in firm contention. She currently holds an almost 100 point lead in a competitive Rookie of the Year race. Despite not having any wins, Saigo has six top-15 finishes on the season, four of those being top 10s. Saigo currently ranks No. 18 in the Race to the CME Standings and No. 41 in the Rolex Rankings. She currently has the second most under par rounds on tour and the fifth best scoring average.
2. JIN HEE IM
Jin Hee Im of South Korea has gotten almost all of her damage done in a four week stretch in the first half of the season. Starting with the Chevron Championship and ending with the U.S. Women’s Open, Im had four top-20 finishes in a row, including top 10s at Chevron and the LA Open. Im missed the cut in both the Evian and KPMG Women’s PGA, which has put a damper on her major championship record, but she has bounced back with two consecutive solid results. Though she hasn’t shown a ton of flash, she still ranks in the top 15 of scoring average on tour this year.
3. Gabi Ruffels
Sitting just one point behind Im is probably most people’s preseason pick, seemed in control of this award for awhile because of her high finishes, but has cooled lately falling here. The 24-year-old Australian star has three third place finishes already, along with three other top 20s. Ruffels’ issue compared to the other two has been consistency, especially here in the recent weeks. Ruffels has missed two of the last three cuts, and hasn’t finished in the top 40 since the Meijer LPGA Classic in early June. Still, there’s been encouraging signs with her game all year, as she is the most well-rounded player of this bunch. The star potential jumps out in a game that doesn’t have any flaws. She drives the ball well and putts terrifically.
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