Julia López has become this Wednesday the first Spanish golfer to reach Number One in the Women’s World Amateur Ranking, thus taking another step in an exceptional career that began in her native Benahavis (Malaga) and continued at the National Blume School and at Mississippi State University.
The transition of the German Helen Briem to professionalism, leaves the Spaniard at the top of the Ranking, a milestone that, for example, Carlota Ciganda and Azahara Muñoz could not reach, since the World Ranking started back in 2009.
A powerful golfer, Julia López has reached the top of the world amateur golf showing off the popular and admired ‘spanish hands’, being always an unpredictable and brilliant player.
A Number One who has been burning stages
The Andalusian, 21 years old, began to play at the age of 3 in a family, the López Ramírez, where the parents were not golfers. She grew up admiring her neighbour Azahara Muñoz and burning stages. Thus, she won the National Youth Women’s Scoring in 2018, which was a boost to her career.
Then came her two seasons at the National Blume School (19/20 and 20/21), her participation in the Spanish FFAA Championships with Andalusia, with whom she won the Sub 18 test in 2019, and of course, her call to play with the National Teams.
Wearing the colours of Spain she won the 2023 European Absolute Team Championship, which was almost immediately followed by her victory in the Individual European Championship in Sweden. Two successes that raised her consideration as a player and great competitor, one of her most valued traits. Along the way, she was awarded the Gold Medal for Merit in Golf.
To these merits must be added the gold medals in the 2021 European Sub 18 Team and in the 2022 University World Team.
Parallel to her career in Europe, Julia López has made a place for herself in the United States shining, and in what way, with Mississippi State University. Last April she won her eighth victory at the SEC Womens Championship in Florida. The first one, the Sam Golden Invitational, dates back to 2021.
This news catches Julia López in Finland, where these days she faces the defence of the aforementioned Individual European Championship.
