Lydia Ko tees off. Photo / Getty Images
World No 1 Lydia Ko has won the Australian amateur title and is believed to be one of the youngest winners in the 118 year history of the event.
The North Shore golfer, who has made a habit of rewriting history in her short but illustrious amateur career, defeated Victorian Breanna Elliott 4 and 3 at the Woodlands Golf Club in Melbourne today.
Ko becomes one the youngest winner of the trophy that dates back to 1894 and she follows in the footsteps of Kiwi golfers Guy Williams (1920), Oliver Kay (1933, 1936) and Jan Higgins (1989) who have won the title.
Golf Australia records do not have an indication of the ages of the champions of the early years of the Australian women's amateur but believed Ko was among the youngest winners of the event.
"I am really proud of myself," said the 14-year-old. "I won the Australian stroke play title last year and finished second in qualifying, but this is so much better. There has been a lot of pressure all week and I have been really happy with how I have played, and to come through to the end and win is amazing.
"To win another national title is a really amazing feeling."
Ko was never behind in the 36 hole final, going one up at the first with a par and then making birdies on holes four, six and seven to claim a five up advantage.
"I was nervous this morning before the final," she said. "I haven't played against Bree much but I knew that it was going to be a tough match. I had fought back well the past few days so that gave me some confidence. I got off to a good start today and that really helped."
Elliot, the number one seed, got a hole back with a par on the 11th to get back to four down. But there was more to come from the superstar Ko as she made par to win 16 and birdied 18 to be six up at the turn.
There was some see-sawing the second 18 but the New Zealander held onto her sizeable advantage to become the first Kiwi to hold aloft the trophy in 23 years.
"The feeling when I had finally won was just relief. I was so relieved. We both played very consistently today and it was just a matter of staying relaxed and confident in my game. I have played under a lot of pressure and people expect a certain standard from me as the world No 1. So when it was all over I was just really happy that I could finally relax.
"She came back into the match when I made a few mistakes as I got tired - it has been a long week - but I always felt like I had the match under control on the second 18 holes."
With her win Ko has earned an exemption into next month's LPGA Tour season opening Australian Open at Royal Melbourne Golf Club.
"It is going to be nice to take this form into the professional events. People are going to start talking me up like I am going to win all the time - I don't know about that.
"But if I play like I played here this week then I think I am capable of coming in the top five in a pro event. I am happy with where my game is at."