![Yin Ruoning wave](https://sports.inquirer.net/files/2023/09/063_1665765363-620x413.jpg)
Ruoning Yin of China plays her shot from the fifth tee during the first round of the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G at Kenwood Country Club on September 7, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Dylan Buell/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Dylan Buell / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
China’s Yin Ruoning became world number one in women’s golf on Sunday by finishing third at the LPGA Queen City Championship.
The 20-year-old became only the second Chinese woman to claim the world number one ranking, after Feng Shanshan, who reached the top from November 2017 to April 2018.
“It means a lot. For me it’s like a dream come true,” said Yin.
“I have goosebumps. World number one is the big step towards chasing Shanshan.”
Yin will play in a Chinese team led by Feng in the Asian Games, which start on home soil in Hangzhou on September 23.
“I haven’t had much chance to talk to Shanshan,” Yin said. “But I am looking forward to going back to China and playing the Asian Games and spending more time with her as she is the head coach of our national team.”
Yin, who needed a top-four result to overtake American Lilia Vu for top spot, missed out by two strokes in the play-off for the Queen City title between Australian Minjee Lee, who won the title with a birdie on the second extra hole. and the English Charley Hull.
But Yin fired a five-under par 67 in the final round to finish third at 14-under 274 at Kenwood Country Club in Cincinnati, Ohio, becoming the fifth different player to top the rankings this year.
“It’s just amazing,” Yin said.
“My head is empty right now.”
![Yin Ruoning](https://sports.inquirer.net/files/2023/09/063_1666580536-620x414.jpg)
Ruoning Yin of China lines up a putt during the first round of the Kroger Queen City Championship Presented by P&G at Kenwood Country Club on September 7, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Justin Casterline/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Justin Casterline / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
The second-ranked Yin won her first major title at the Women’s PGA Championship in June, two months after earning her first LPGA win at the LA Open.
Others topping the rankings this year included New Zealand’s Lydia Ko, Americans Vu and Nelly Korda and South Korea’s Ko Jin-young.
Vu’s three wins this year include major wins at the Chevron Championship in April and the Women’s British Open in August.
Yin was never able to share the lead, settling for her fourth third-place finish in five events, but did what she needed to jump to the top of the leaderboard.
“I feel pretty comfortable,” Yin said. “Every week I know I’m in the right place and every week I can put myself in that winning circle. It’s just great to see that I can play well, but also consistently.”
Yin posted birdies on the par-5 second and fourth holes around another on the par-3 third and stormed to third early.
She started the back nine with a birdie and added another on the par-5 15th to consolidate her grip on the spot before making her way to the clubhouse.
“For this week, I know (depending) on which position I finish, I can become number one in the world,” Yin said. “I just keep it in the back of my mind.
“On the last hole I checked the rankings. I thought, ‘Okay, another week of third place, but I’m assuming I’ll be number one in the world.’
Read Next
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to access The Philippine Daily Inquirer and over 70 titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4am and share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.
For feedback, complaints or questions, please contact us.