Veteran Ilhee Lee Jumps from 1,426th to 218th in World Rankings

Runner-up Finish at ShopRite Classic Propels Ilhee Lee Up 1,208 Spots
Korda, Thitikul, and Lydia Ko Hold Top 3 Positions
Yoo Haeran 5th, Kupcho 45th, Lee Gayoung 88th

Veteran Ilhee Lee has climbed an impressive 1,208 spots in the world rankings.

In the women's golf weekly world rankings announced on June 9 (local time), she earned 0.54 points, jumping from 1,426th place last week to 218th. She accumulated these points by finishing as the runner-up at the ShopRite Classic (total prize money of $1.75 million) of the LPGA Tour, held the previous day at the Seaview Bay Course (par 71, 6,263 yards) in Galloway, New Jersey, USA. This marked her first top-10 finish in an LPGA Tour event in nearly nine years, since tying for ninth at the Rainwood Classic in September 2016.

Ilhee Lee is raising her hand to greet the applause from the gallery at the 18th hole of the final 3rd round of the ShopRite Classic. Galloway, USA ? Photo by AFP Yonhap News

Ilhee Lee made her LPGA Tour debut in 2010 and claimed her first victory at the 2013 Pure Silk-Bahamas Classic, but has not added another trophy since. She narrowly missed the chance to win an LPGA Tour event for the first time in 12 years. Lee ranked 37th on the money list in 2014 and 24th in 2015, but her ranking gradually declined to 86th in 2016 and 123rd in 2017. Compounded by a shoulder injury, she has not been able to compete regularly on tour since 2018.

Without a tour card, she has only been able to participate in LPGA Tour events once or twice a year, thanks to the limited opportunities given to past tournament winners. This year, she only played in last week's major, the US Women's Open, where she missed the cut. At this event, however, she consistently competed among the leaders, laying the groundwork for a comeback. Lee reflected, "Maybe because I was nervous, my body was shaking a bit, so I tried to move my lower body more. I overcame it quickly, and I think I finished pretty well."

Nelly Korda (USA), Atthaya Thitikul (Thailand), and Lydia Ko (New Zealand) maintained their positions in the top three. Among Korean players, Yoo Hae-ran is ranked 5th, Kim Hyo-joo 10th, Ko Jin-young 12th, Yang Hee-young 22nd, Yoon Ina 25th, Lee Ye-won 26th, Kim A-lim 27th, Lim Jin-hee 28th, and Choi Hye-jin 29th. ShopRite Classic champion Jennifer Kupcho (USA) is ranked 45th, while domestic tour Celltrion Queens Masters champion Lee Ga-young is 88th.