21 Feb 2011

New Zealander Ko leading amateur

6:34 am on 21 February 2011

New Zealand teenager Lydia Ko showed that last year was no fluke when after finishing leading amateur in the top-10 in the New Zealand Women's Golf Open.

She shot a final round one-under par 71 in the strong winds to finish in a share of fourth place on seven-under par with Europe's number three ranked Melissa Reid (England).

He strong performance follows her seventh place finish last year as well as her second placing in the recent New South Wales Open.

Ko mixed two birdies with one bogey in her round.

Despite the heavy schedule there's no break now for the teenager, who competes in the Riversdale Cup in Australia next week before heading to India for the Queen Sirikit Cup, and then returns across the Tasman for the Australian Amateur Championships.

Ko can expect to see her world ranking as the leading New Zealand golfer - amateur or professional - jump up from the current place of 252 as well as her ranking as No 5 on the world amateur list.