Pettersen moves closer to No. 1 spot in women's golf

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Oct. 28 (UPI) -- Suzann Pettersen repeated as champion of the LPGA stop in Taiwan and moved closer to overtaking Inbee Park as the No. 1-ranked women's golfer.

Pettersen won the Sunrise LPGA Taiwan Championship by five strokes, breaking a tie with Azahara Munoz and pulling away in the final six holes. It was her 21st career LPGA title and fourth since April.

Park, who was second to Pettersen in 2012 in Taiwan but skipped the tournament this year, marks her 29th week at No. 1. She has a rankings points average of 11.97 and Pettersen's recent strong play gives her an average of 11.38.

Other Top 10 players are even closer to each other and relatively minor points adjustments -- as older tournament results are devalued -- can lead to changes in the rankings.

There are two such instances this week as Ryu So-yeon, whose average is 7.07, passes Lydia Ko (7.06) for fourth in the rankings and I.K. Kim (5.28) moves ahead of Catriona Matthew (5.23) for ninth.

The LPGA is off this week before wrapping up its Asian trip with the Mizuno Classic Nov. 8-10 in Japan. The 2013 LPGA calendar concludes with the Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Mexico Nov. 14-17 and the CME Group Titleholders event Nov. 21-24 in Naples, Fla.

The women's world golf rankings Top 10, listing player's name, home country and rankings points average:

1. Inbee Park, South Korea, 11.97

2. Suzann Pettersen, Norway, 11.38

3. Stacy Lewis, United States, 9.83

4. Ryu So-yeon, South Korea, 7.07

5. Lydia Ko, New Zealand, 7.06

6. Choi Na-yeon, South Korea, 6.87

7. Feng Shanshan, China, 6.37

8. Karrie Webb, Australia, 5.90

9. I.K. Kim, South Korea, 5.28

10. Catriona Matthew, Scotland, 5.23