VIDEO: Lydia Ko creates LPGA history, wins Canadian Open

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Ko blasts Canadian Open field

3News NZ

Lydia Ko, centre, with her Canadian Open trophy (Reuters)

Lydia Ko, centre, with her Canadian Open trophy (Reuters)

New Zealand teenage prodigy Lydia Ko left the world's best women's golfers in her wake and re-wrote the history books by winning the Canadian Open in Vancouver.

World leading amateur Ko, 15, put the golfing world on notice with a stunning three-shot win at the $US2 million ($NZ2.5m) tournament.

Leading by a shot after three rounds, she underlined her immense talent and unveiled composure beyond her years with a brilliant birdie-laden back nine.

She carded the equal-best round of the day, a five-under 67 to finish on 13-under at Vancouver Golf Club.

Korean Chella Choi was second on 10-under while three golfers tied for third a further two shots back.

Nineteen of the world's top-20 players were in the field, including Yani Tseng of Taiwan, who is comfortably No.1 yet could only manage a one-over tally, 14 shots behind Ko.

The South Korean-born Aucklander set a host of notable records.

She is the youngest player to win on the elite US LPGA Tour, surpassing 16-year-old American Lexi Thompson's achievement last year.

She is also the first New Zealand player to win on the Tour and is the first amateur to do so for 43 years.

Ko's form was excellent coming in, having won the US amateur title.

Earlier this year she became the youngest winner - man or woman - of a professional golf tournament when triumphing at the NSW Open aged 14.

Ko's nerveless round on Sunday accelerated after carding birdies on the second and sixth holes before a bogey on the seventh.

She put her foot down on the back nine to give her big-name rivals - including playing partner and American world No.2 Stacy Lewis - no chance of catching her.

Four straight birdies from the 10th to 13th holes were followed by another on the 15th.

A bogey on the 18th took nothing away from one of the more remarkable achievements by any New Zealand golfer.

Watch the video for highlights and more.

NZN

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Comments

27/08/2012 5:18:35 p.m.

Maddy wrote:

What Colin said. This is a remarkable achievement for ANY golfer. I hope she gets a big parade!

27/08/2012 10:58:45 a.m.

Colin Thomson wrote:

Congratulations to Lydia, an absolutely outstanding achievement in winning the Canadian open following on from her win in the US Amateur. To take out a fully professional event at age 15 is unprecedented, and 19 of the top 20 in the world were up against her. She showed no sign of feeling any pressure being in the final group and in the process shooting a 5 under 67 the day's lowest round! She is an absolute star and despite the achievements of our Olympians, she in my opinion now clearly shoulod be the ladies winner of the Halberg Award for 2012.