3 Feb 2014

Ko happy with second in Christchurch

6:04 am on 3 February 2014

The young New Zealand golf star Lydia Ko says she's happy with her second place finish at the New Zealand Open in Christchurch.

Ko was unable to defend her title, finishing one shot behind South Korea's Mi Hyang Lee, who fired a course record nine under par 63 in the final round.

Ko says her finish over the final few holes was very good and so she has to be happy.

The 16-year-old says unfortunetly she didn't give herself as many opportunities as she did the first 2 days and therefore wasn't making as many birdies.

She says she did have a few stomach cramps midway through her round as she recovered from a stomach bug that almost forced her to retire on the second day.

Ko has a week off before the Australian Open in Melbourne.