Jenny Bae cracks top 50 in LPGA for first time, makes Solheim push

Jenny Bae climbed 23 spots in the Rolex Rankings after taking a share of third at the Mizuho Americas Open . It marked a third career top-5 finish for the Georgian, who now ranks 49th in the world. Bae, who closed with a 66 on Sunday in New Jersey, has climbed a total of 37 spots in her second year on tour.

In nine starts this season, Bae has five top-25 finishes. It's no wonder U. S.

Solheim Cup captain Angela Stanford invited her to a gathering of potential players at Juli Inkster's house ahead of the Fortinet Founders Cup near San Francisco. The petite but powerful Bae, who grew up on a chicken farm in tiny Maysville, Georgia , won the Juli Inkster Award as the nation's top golfer in her final season of eligibility at the University of Georgia. Another young American making moves is LPGA rookie Melanie Green, last year's Epson Tour Player of the Year.

Green has a pair of top-10 finishes this season and a T-20 last week at Mizuho. The former Curtis Cup player and British Amateur champion has jumped 91 spots in the Rolex Rankings since the year started. She's currently 119th.