Yin Ruoning during China LPGA's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Orient Masters in Xiamen, Fujian Province, September 4, 2020. /Xinhua Photo

China's Yin Ruoning is the new No 1 in the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings.

The 20-year-old Yin is the 18th different player to reach top spot and the fifth this year, a record.

She is the second Chinese mainland player to reach No 1 since the rankings began in 2006, joining Feng Shanshan (2017-18).

Yin is also the third player aged 20 or younger to hit No 1, joining Atthaya Thitikul (2022) and Lydia Ko (2015).

Yin had been expected to climb from No 2 to No 1 after her third-place finish at the Kroger Queen City Championship on Sunday.

Yin became a first-time winner on the LPGA Tour at the LA Open in March, then captured her first major title at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship in June.