Golf: Ko narrowly misses out on place in history

Lydia Ko. Photo / Richard Robinson

New Zealand amateur golfer Lydia Ko was a centimetre away from the chance to create history at the New South Wales Open in Sydney yesterday.

The brilliant 13-year-old North Harbour student narrowly missed a one-metre par putt on the final green that would have forced a playoff with Sweden's Caroline Hedwall, who won her first tournament as a professional at Oatlands Golf Club.

Ko was 1-up playing the last in the Australian Ladies Professional Tour (ALPG) event before Hedwall made a slick downhill birdie on the final green and the young New Zealander three-putted.

Had Ko prevailed, she would have become the youngest player to ever win a professional event on the ALPG.

Amy Yang became the youngest player to win a professional event when she won the 2006 Australian Ladies Masters at age 16.

Ko and Hedwall both shot two-under par 70 yesterday with the Swede winning on 11-under par and the New Zealander one shot back.

Despite the disappointment, it was another remarkable achievement from Ko, who finished seventh in the New Zealand Open last year.

"I guess I am a little disappointed but overall I am still proud of myself for how far I got," Ko, a New Zealand representative, said. "I think I played good, but putting sometimes didn't help me. I think it is getting more consistent on the greens and going in the right direction for the Australian Open in Melbourne.

"I had a chip-in today and did some good recovery shots which helped get me in the mood and the rhythm."

She tried not to let the occasion get the better of her yesterday.

"I was nervous at the start and the end. There were people here to support me which helped.

"Before the tournament I did not even think of going to the final round although inside me I always want to win."

Ko said tried to blot out the situation when she stood on the par-3 final hole one shot ahead of Hedwall.

"We both played well today. I knew I had a shot at winning. But Caroline had a really nice downhill putt that went in which did not surprise me. I hit my downhill putt too big and just missed the par putt.

"Overall I am pretty proud of myself and where I got to was pretty good for someone my age. I think I have learned a lot from this. I will get a lot of confidence about it and next time I have that putt, I will be dead straight with it."

Australian professional Stephanie Na shot a three-under 69 to finish third on eight-under.European-based professional Lynnette Brooky was the next best of the New Zealanders on one-under par in a share of 13th place, while Northland's Caroline Bon was tied for 26th on three-over.

- NZPA