28 Aug 2012

Ko says she only looked at the leaderboard on final two holes

5:29 am on 28 August 2012

The New Zealand golfer Lydia Ko, who's become the youngest player to win on the LPGA tour, says she never even looked at the leaderboard until the second to last hole at the Canadian Women's Open in Vancouver.

The 15-year-old led outright by one stroke going into the final round but was pulled in by the chasing pack with four players at one stage sharing the lead.

However fuelled by cherry tomatoes on the back nine Ko pulled away with a string of five birdies to card a final round five under par 67 to finish at 13 under for the tournament and win by three strokes.

Ko says it was the biggest crowd she had played in front of and she received plenty of support with people shouting "Go Kiwi" and "Go Lydia" which she appreciated.

Ko's the first New Zealander to win on the LPGA, as well as only the fifth amateur and the first since 1969.

As an amateur though she misses out on the $350,000 winner's purse - however Ko says the result won't change her mind about remaining amateur, saying she wants to go to university in the United States.