19 Oct 2015

Thompson triumphs over yo-yo Ko

8:31 am on 19 October 2015

The New Zealand golfer Lydia Ko has missed a chance to claim the number one world ranking after finishing the latest LPGA Tour event in South Korea in a three-way tie for fourth.

Lydia Ko plays a tee shot on the 2nd hole during round four of an LPGA event in Incheon, South Korea.

Lydia Ko plays a tee shot on the 2nd hole during round four of an LPGA event in Incheon, South Korea. Photo: Getty Images

The world No.2 held a share of the lead after day three, but could only produce an even par round on Sunday to be overtaken by the American winner Lexi Thompson.

Ko hit three birdies and three bogies to finish the tournament at 13 under par, two strokes behind the winner.

Ko's difficult day was complete when she missed an eight foot birdie putt on the last that would have allowed her to reclaim the world number one ranking from South Korean In-bee Park.

Thompson surged into the lead with three birdies to complete the front nine, and held her position with a bogey and a birdy on the back.

The world number five fired a final round three-under-par 69 for a 15-under total of 273 to claim the $3 million event - her sixth LPGA Tour title and second of the year.

Tied with Ko was the American Gerina Piller and the Korean Amy Yang, while Korea's Sung Hyun Park and Yani Tseng of Taiwan tied for second.