Lydia Ko pips Charley Hull to New Zealand Open title
17-year old Lydia Ko took her second title in two weeks at the New Zealand Open title.
Ko carded a final round 71 finishing 14-under and four shots clear of Australian amateur Hannah Green.
“I really wanted to win in front of such great crowds, this is probably the biggest crowd I’ve seen,” said Ko, after the win in her native New Zealand.
“It’s always cool winning on home ground.
We were walking up 16 and (playing partner Giulia Sergas) said ‘they like you’. I said ‘well, it’s home’.
It’s just great, the spectators have been amazing. It’s one of the best tournaments I play each year, the atmosphere and everything.”
Charley Hull had provided a late charge but was undone by a run of dropped shots eventually finishing tied sixth at 10-under.
A double bogey at the 12th knocked back any challenge Hull had put up to take the title.
The 18-year old eventually closed with a 77 to finish in a group tied-fifth.
Speaking of Hull’s late faulter, Ko said: “Yeah, it was starting to (tighten up).”
“All I can do is hit good shots and concentrate on my game.
That’s all I can do. If someone else plays well there isn’t anything you can do about it.”
Ko had provided some world class golf in the early stages of the tournament, carding a course record 11-under 61 to cruise to her second New Zealand Open title in just three years.
Ko said: “The more Ws the better, but it was just great, and I think I had a really good b(off-season) break which got me fresh going into this year.”
Full tournament leaderboard details can be found here.
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