Golf

Hannah O’Sullivan tops amateur world golf rankings

American with Irish grandparents overtakes Leona Maguire to become number one

Hannah O’Sullivan has overtaken leona Maguire at the top of the women’s amateur golf rankings. Photograph: Getty
Hannah O’Sullivan has overtaken leona Maguire at the top of the women’s amateur golf rankings. Photograph: Getty
Wed May 11 2016 - 13:08

US Amateur champion Hannah O'Sullivan, whose paternal grandparents hail from Limerick and Tipperary, has overtaken Leona Maguire at the top of the women's amateur world golf rankings.

The 18-year-old, who celebrated her birthday on Wednesday, recently decided to commit to LPGA Tour qualifying school next year rather than take up a scholarship at the University of Southern California.

Her world ranking move has knocked long-time number one Maguire down to second in the list with Royal County Down's Olivia Mehaffey still at number eight.

Maguire and Mehaffey will go head-to-head with O’Sullivan at Dun Laoghaire Golf Club in Enniskerry next month in what’s shaping up to be a fiercely competitive Curtis Cup.

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O’Sullivan’s move is largely thanks to her finish as low amateur in the first women’s major of the year - the ANA Inspiration - last month.

The Arizona native has long been making waves in the women’s game after qualifying for the Women’s US Open at the age of just 14. In February she was one of five 17-year-olds named on an exceptionally young US Curtis Cup team.