Natasha Andrea Oon’s fine run of performances on the Epson Tour have earned her bragging rights as the top Malaysian on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, marginally ahead of Kelly Tan.
In the latest rankings released earlier this week, Oon is in 325th spot which is just one higher than Tan, who had been Malaysia’s top player for the best part of the last decade.
In 12 starts so far this year on the Epson Tour, Oon has shown remarkable consistency to chalk up six top-10 finishes including three runner-up performances, with just one missed cut.
“I’m not sure that it is exactly, but something has certainly been going well for me this year. Honestly, I think it’s a product of practising a lot and just trial and error over the years,” noted Oon, who turned professional in June last year after a much-decorated collegiate golf career with San Jose State University.
As for becoming the top Malaysian in the Rolex Rankings, Oon played down the achievement. “I’m grateful but it’s just rankings. I wasn’t even tracking it week to week, so it’s quite a surprise,” said the 21-year-old.
Oon’s US$3,116 cheque from her T14 finish at last week’s Hartford HealthCare Women’s Championship took her season earnings to US$85,430, consolidating second place in the Epson Tour’s 2023 Race for the Card standings behind Australia’s Gabriela Ruffels (US$96,149).
The Epson Tour is the official qualifying circuit for the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour, where the top 10 players following the season-ending Epson Tour Championship in October will earn coveted LPGA Tour cards for 2024.
Two other Malaysians are competing on this year’s Epson Tour. Alyaa Abdulghany is currently in 15th place on the Race for the Card standings with US$43,110 following her excellent T6 finish in the Hartford HealthCare Women’s Championship, while Ashley Lau lies 127th with US$2,903.
The Epson Tour’s next event is the US$200,000 Twin Bridges Championship, which starts on Friday at Pinehaven Country Club in New York. This will be the 13th of 22 events on the tour’s 2023 schedule.
Malaysians on Rolex Rankings (as of July 17, 2023)
| Position | Player | Average Points |
| 325 | NATASHA OON | 0.34 |
| 326 | KELLY TAN | 0.34 |
| 510 | ALYAA ABDULGHANY 0.16 | |
| 931 | GENEVIEVE LING | 1.04 |
| 986 | ASHLEY LAU | 0.02 |
| 1304 | JOCELYN CHEE | 0.01 |
