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Teenager Ko makes history

01/29/2012 08:14:41 PM

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Lydia Ko has achieved many amazing feats in her short golfing career but they all pale in comparison to the 14-year-old's latest – becoming the youngest ever winner, male or female, of a professional tournament.

Ko did it style as well, winning the NSW Open by four shots after a nerveless final round of three-under 69 that featured not a single bogey.

There would have been nerves not only for the enormity of the achievement but also the fact she missed a short at the final hole of last year's tournament and went on to lose in a play-off to Caroline Hedwall.

She erased Japanese male star Ryo Ishikawa's old record at 15 years and eight months as the youngest ever victory and also the female mark, previously held by Australian Amy Yang at 16 years and 192 days.

"It's a pretty amazing feeling. I don't know what to say," Ko said.

"All I know is I played really consistent all week and I am really happy to be part of history. It's like a miracle it's not something you can have like clicking your fingers."

Ko paid tribute to her coach of eight years, Guy Wilson, her caddy Steve Mowbray and mother Tina, who paced around nervously throughout the final round at the Oatlands Golf Club.

She began her final 18 holes four shots ahead of Lindsey Wright, and that was trimmed back to three when Wright birdied the second.

It was down to two when Wright picked up further shots at the sixth and seventh but that was to be the closest that anyone got to the unflappable Kiwi teenager.

She signed off in style for the local crowd, knocking her tee shot on the short par-three 18th into the flagstick, having it bounce off just off the left side of the green then getting up and down to complete a blemish-free round.

"I got more nervous as the day went on," said Ko, the world's No.1 amateur.

"When Lindsey got within two shots, I started to think back to last year with Caroline. Obviously, I am very happy to win, it means a lot to me."

Ko planned to celebrate in typical teenaged fashion with a soft drink that night before hitting the practice ground again ahead of the Australian Masters.

It is another step towards her dream of becoming a professional and eventually earning the right to call herself the world's best professional with the same status as an amateur already secured.

"When I came to New Zealand I started golf and I knew if I tried hard that it would be possible."

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images

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