Reilley Rankin
Encyclopedia
Reilley Rankin is an American professional golfer
, currently playing on the LPGA Tour.
(AJGA) Rolex All-American from 1995 to 1997. She was a three-time All-American at the University of Georgia
where she was the Southeastern Conference
(SEC) Freshman of the Year in 1997, the NCAA Freshman of the Year in 1998, ad the 1997–98 SEC Player of the Year. She won four consecutive collegiate tournaments in 1998, the same year she was a semifinalist at the Women's Western Amateur. She was forced to take two years off from competition in 1999 and 2000 after breaking her back but came in 2001 to lead the Georgia to the NCAA Championship
title. She graduated from Georgia in 2001 with a degree in Child and Family Development.
. She played two tournaments on the Futures Tour in 2001, and then played a full season in 2002 and 2003. In 2003 she won two events which earned fifth place on the Futures Tour money list and full membership on the LPGA Tour for the 2004 season. Her best finish to date on the LPGA Tour is a tie for second at the 2007 Mizuno Classic
. In 2010, she fell to 139th on the final official LPGA money list, requiring her to return to LPGA qualifying school in order to retain her LPGA playing privileges for 2011. She finished in the top 10 at the qualifying tournament.
Professional golfer
In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
, currently playing on the LPGA Tour.
Amateur career
Rankin was a three-time American Junior Golf AssociationAmerican Junior Golf Association
The American Junior Golf Association is a "501 nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf." AJGA is considered by many leaders in the golf industry to be the premier...
(AJGA) Rolex All-American from 1995 to 1997. She was a three-time All-American at the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
where she was the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
(SEC) Freshman of the Year in 1997, the NCAA Freshman of the Year in 1998, ad the 1997–98 SEC Player of the Year. She won four consecutive collegiate tournaments in 1998, the same year she was a semifinalist at the Women's Western Amateur. She was forced to take two years off from competition in 1999 and 2000 after breaking her back but came in 2001 to lead the Georgia to the NCAA Championship
NCAA Women's Golf Championship
NCAA Champions for women's golf:-Division I:-Division II-III combined:-Division II:-Division III:-Team:The following schools have won more than one team championship:*15: Methodist*7: Arizona State*5: Duke, Rollins*4: Florida Southern...
title. She graduated from Georgia in 2001 with a degree in Child and Family Development.
Professional career
Rankin turned professional in July 2001, playing on the Futures TourFUTURES Tour
The LPGA Futures Tour, previously styled in uppercase as FUTURES Tour and known for sponsorship reasons between 2006 and 2010 as the Duramed FUTURES Tour, is the official developmental golf tour of the LPGA Tour...
. She played two tournaments on the Futures Tour in 2001, and then played a full season in 2002 and 2003. In 2003 she won two events which earned fifth place on the Futures Tour money list and full membership on the LPGA Tour for the 2004 season. Her best finish to date on the LPGA Tour is a tie for second at the 2007 Mizuno Classic
Mizuno Classic
The Mizuno Classic is an annual women's professional golf tournament, jointly sanctioned by the two richest women's professional tours: the U.S.-based LPGA Tour and the LPGA of Japan Tour. It was an unofficial money event on the LPGA Tour from 1973 to 1975...
. In 2010, she fell to 139th on the final official LPGA money list, requiring her to return to LPGA qualifying school in order to retain her LPGA playing privileges for 2011. She finished in the top 10 at the qualifying tournament.
Personal life
On June 4, 1998, during the summer between her sophomore and junior years at the University of Georgia, Rankin was severely injured after jumping from a cliff into a lake about 70 feet below. Her injuries included a broken back, a broken sternum and bruised heart, lungs and aorta. She was confined to a body cast for three months.Futures Tour wins (2)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 24, 2003 | Northwest Indiana Futures Golf Classic | Playoff |  Soo Young Moon |
|
| 2 | Aug 21, 2003 | Betty Puskar Futures Golf Classic | 2 strokes |  Lisa Strom |