Golf: McCall the NZ No 1 men's amateur

Southland golfer Vaughan McCall (pictured) has overtaken Ben Campbell to be ranked No 1 in the New Zealand men's amateur ranks. Photo / Steven Parker.

Southland golfer Vaughan McCall has overtaken Ben Campbell to be ranked No 1 in the New Zealand men's amateur ranks.

The 20-year-old from the Gore Golf Club, who on the weekend finished runner-up at the Wales Stroke Play Championship, is now the 168th best amateur player in the world.

Campbell, who at his peak in 2010 was ranked No 6 in the world, has slipped to 172 after a lean run of form.

Former Russley golfer Keelan Kilpatrick, who is based in the United States on a golf scholarship, is the third Kiwi on the World Amateur Golf Rankings in 197th place.

Takaka golfer Blair Riordan, who was part of the New Zealand team who won the Sloan Morpeth Trophy, is the fourth best in 238th place.

Compton Pikari (283), Sam An (315), Peter Lee (338) and Daniel Pearce (350) round out the top eight players from New Zealand.

Five Kiwis in total - McCall, Campbell, Riordan, Pearce and Perry - are in the United Kingdom preparing for the Northern Hemisphere calendar of events beginning this week at the Scotland Stroke Play Championship at Kilmarnock.

Among the women, Lydia Ko is still comfortably the world No 1 on 1865.74 average points ahead of her closest rival South African Kim Williams, who is more than 100 points back on 1760.71.

Wellington No 1 Julianne Alvarez has claimed second place on the New Zealand rankings in 73rd place, one better than New Zealand Stroke Play champion Emily Perry.

Auckland rep Wenyung Keh, who upset Ko yesterday to win the Auckland Secondary Schools Championship, is the fourth best Kiwi in 90th place.

Former New Zealand rep Zoe Brake (106), New Zealand amateur champion Mun Chin Keh (114), Chantelle Cassidy (120) and Sarah Bradley (126) round out the top eight New Zealand women.

In the professional ranks, Danny Lee, who has been up and down on the PGA Tour in 2012, remains the leading Kiwi at 171 in the world.

David Smail, a five-time winner on the Japan Golf Tour, is second on the rankings at 373 in the world while New Zealand PGA Pro-Am champion Michael Hendry is third at 481.

Josh Geary (510), Mark Brown (551) and Tim Wilkinson (605) complete the top six New Zealand male professionals on the world rankings.

Ko leads the way in the professional ranks for the women despite playing only eight events.

Ko, who is preparing to make her major debut at the US Open, is 170th in the world.

New Zealand veteran Lynnette Brooky is the New Zealand No 2 at 345 in the world rankings while North Harbour pro Cathryn Bristow (526) and amateur Emily Perry (645), who has only played four professional events, complete the top four Kiwi women.