Canadas Nick Taylor is new WAGR number one
17 Jun 2009 - 00:00:00
Canada's Nick Taylor is the new World Amateur Golf Ranking Number One, leaping five places to the top spot after an exceptional performance at the US Open sectional qualifying.
The 21-year-old from British Columbia finished two shots clear at the head of the field at the Suncadia Resort, carding a two-round total of six under-par 136. Only two spots were available to the 36 competitors, yet the First Team All-American showed his pedigree to qualify for the second year in succession.
This season, the Washington State junior has rewritten his school's record book, registering the most victories in a single year (4), the lowest 54-hole total (198), the lowest third-round score (63) and becoming the Washington's first Pac-10 Player of the Year.
He has finished in the top-ten in eight of his eleven college tournaments played this year.Fellow Canadian, Matt Hill, occupies the number two spot with last week's number one, Morgan Hoffmann, slipping two places to third.
In Alabama, meanwhile, Hunter Hamrick won his state amateur championship at the Greystone Golf and Country Club in Birmingham. A final-round five under-par 67 on Sunday eased Hamrick to a five-shot victory.
And with it came a three-pace boost up the Ranking to 32nd.In a week of southern state amateur championships, Jay Mulieri took the Maryland to enter the WAGRankings at 2474th; Jordan Blann won in Kentucky to leap 122 places to WAGRank 361; the North Carolina was won by Mark McMillen who begins his WAGR career in 2275th position; and Wes McNulty was victorious in Arkansas, up 485 to WAGRank 1632.
Week 25 sees the world's best competing at the 2009 Amateur Championship which, this year, is being shared between Formby and West Lancashire golf clubs in England's north-west. Click here for stories, highlights and live scores.
