26 Aug 2013

Ko retains Canadian Open title

10:04 pm on 26 August 2013

New Zealand teenage golf sensation Lydia Ko has made history again by defending her Canadian Open title.

The 16-year-old fired a 6 under par round of 64 at Edmonton's Royal Mayfair Golf Club to take a five-stroke lead over nearest rival Karine Icher of France.

Ko was in a field which boasted the world's top 10 players and 96 of the world's top 100 players.

The win makes her the youngest player to win twice on the US LPGA Tour. She last year became the youngest winner in LPGA Tour history.

She started the day in a share of second place but the world number one amateur was relentless in the final round, delivering a putting master-class as she outshone her professional rivals.

Ko made three birdies in the first four holes, adding two more on the front nine to take the lead. Her only bogey came on the 13th hole but she finished in style, draining a birdie putt on the final hole to claim her fourth professional title.

Her amateur status means she's ineligible for the $380,000 winner's cheque and Ko remains coy on when she will turn professional.

"I've always said I'm thinking about it and that's the same answer right here, nothing has changed within the last 72 hours," she told Sky Sport.

"I'm happy at the moment and I think this win will make us think a little better, and think what is a good option right now."

Ko says she was pleased with the way she handled the pressure after starting the day in a more difficult position.

The general manager of Ko's former Pupuke Golf Club, Laurie Flynn, says he was amazed by her dominant performance.

He says Ko was a dedicated player when she played for Pupuke and it has taken years of commitment to get where she is.

Her coach Guy Wilson told Checkpoint she was outstanding.