LPGA rookie Hwang Yu-min's world ranking slipped one spot to 30th. Despite a respectable tied-18th finish at the HSBC Women's World Championship, she was overtaken by Korean-American Auston Kim, who jumped 11 places to 28th after finishing runner-up. Fellow LPGA rookie Mimi Rhodes of England rose four spots to 59th after finishing tied-10th at the HSBC event.
Hwang, the highest-ranked LPGA rookie, and Rhodes, the second-highest, are shaping up as rivals for Rookie of the Year honors as the tour season unfolds.
The two players, who competed in the same group on the final day of the HSBC Women's World Championship and assessed each other's game, will face off again. They have been paired together for the opening round of the Blue Bay LPGA at Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Course (par 72) in Hainan, China. While both shot even-par 72 in their final-round pairing at the HSBC event, their standings are likely to diverge this week as they will play together for two days with a cut in effect. World No. 31 Ayaka Furue of Japan completes their group.
Hwang and Rhodes are expected to battle for Rookie of the Year throughout the season. Although Helene Brehm of Germany earned medalist honors at Q-Series Final last year, Rhodes is considered the more accomplished player. Rhodes finished second in the Ladies European Tour's Player of the Year rankings last year, while Brehm placed ninth.
Rhodes also delivered a strong performance at the LET season-opening PIF Saudi Ladies International, tying for sixth alongside Yun I-na against a field packed with top-ranked players.
This tournament, the final stop of the Asian Swing, features few elite players. China's Yin Ruoning, who dropped from eighth to 10th this week, is the only top-10 player in the field. Expanding to the top 25 adds only two more: No. 15 Choi Hye-jin and No. 16 Rikako Takeda of Japan.
Rookies, however, are out in force, with 22 of the 28 first-year players entered.
Another Korean LPGA rookie, Lee Dong-eun, will make her debut. She is grouped with Zhou Siwen of China and Aline Krauter of Germany. The event offers a stage to showcase Lee's driving power—she led the KLPGA Tour in driving distance.
Choi Hye-jin, the second-highest-ranked player in the field, has drawn a marquee pairing. She will compete alongside Chinese star Yin Ruoning, setting up a shot-making showcase. Major champion Hinako Shibuno of Japan rounds out their group.