Fourteen-year-old New Zealand schoolgirl Lydia Ko became the youngest-ever golfer to win a pro tournament when she shot a three under par 69 to claim the New South Wales Women’s Open in Australia at the weekend.
Her historic win by four shots over Wales’ Becky Morgan beats Ryo Ishikawa’s KSB Cup can win back in 2007. He was 15 years-of-age and eight months at the time. Previously Australian Amy Yang who won the Australian Ladies Masters aged 16 years, 192 days held the record as the youngest to win a women’s pro event.
“I can’t really think much. All I know is I played really good golf and I’m really happy,” said a visibly gobsmacked Ko. “I hope people back in New Zealand will be proud. Making history is amazing.”
Playing partner, Australian Lindsey Wright, tried her best to deny Ko her place in the history books, but ultimately fell short.
Added Ko: “The pressure came to me. [Wright] was hitting it close and putting so well. After nine she was two shots behind and you know golf, it can be turned around in two or three holes. I was like, ‘Wow!’”
But Wright admitted afterwards she was proud to be part of history. “I can’t believe she’s that young,” she said. “I kept saying to myself, ‘She’s not 14, she’s not 14.’ We’ve just witnessed history. It’s incredible.”
Korean-born Ko came close to winning the same NSW tournament last year, aged 13, missing a putt on the last green to lose by one shot. She now heads to the Australian Ladies Masters at Royal Pines on the Queensland Gold Coast this week and will be an automatic qualifier for the Australian Women’s Open at Royal Melbourne at the end of February.
There, she could face America’s wonderkid Lexi Thompson, who became the youngest player to win an LPGA event at 16 years of age and followed it up by becoming the youngest pro to win on the Ladies European Tour at the season-ending Dubai Ladies Masters.
Click here to watch highlights of Ko’s historic victory.
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