Ko Rallies to Win Marathon Classic


Lydia Ko fired a 6-under 65 to win the Marathon Classic, a 72-hole, $1.4 million LPGA Tour event that took place at Highland Meadows Golf Club in Sylvania, Ohio.

The 17-year-old Ko recorded three birdies on each her front and back nines to finish at 15-under 269, a mere stroke ahead of South Korea's So Yeon Ryu.

Ko birdied two of the three final holes. Ryu had a chance to force extra holes by making a six-foot birdie on the par-5 closing hole, but she missed, settling for runner-up. "Absolutely I'm disappointed I missed (that) birdie putt," Ryu said. "Sometimes if I get something lucky, then I get something that is unlucky. I just accept it and let it go."

Ko tried to see Ryu's putt, but couldn't view it as the 5'5" player was blocked by the gallery. "I couldn't see it properly. I was behind some people," she said. "But I kind of could tell what happened by the crowd's reaction."

The victory, worth $210,000, was the second of the year for Ko on the LPGA Tour, and the fourth of her young career. She won two straight Canadian Women's Opens in 2012 and '13 as an amateur.

Ko is the youngest player ever to accrue $1 million in earnings on the LPGA Tour. "I may do one of those teenage things - like getting something electronic," she quipped about her recent payday.

Cristie Kerr shot a 67 to take third at 12-under 272, while Malaysia's Kelly Tan had a 67 to end up sharing fourth at 11-under with Australia's Katherine Kirk (68) and South Africa's Lee-Anne Pace (71).

Pace began the final round sharing the lead with 39-year-old Laura Diaz, a two-time LPGA winner who was seeking her first victory since the 2002 LPGA Corning Classic in her home state of New York.

But Diaz had a tough Sunday, posting four bogeys for a 75 to end up in a tie for 18th at 7-under 277.

Sweden's Pernilla Lindberg (65), Paraguay's Julieta Granada (66), Aussie Lindsey Wright (68) and Americans Kris Tamulis (68) and Mo Martin (69) shared seventh at 274.

Coming off a career-defining victory in last week's Women's British Open, the 31-year-old Martin had three birdies and a bogey Sunday.

On Saturday rookie Jaye Marie Green posted nine birdies and a bogey for a 63 that moved her only a stroke behind Pace and Diaz. But Green closed with a 74 to end up T-18 at 7-under 277.

Other scores included a 67 by reigning Kraft-Nabisco champion Lexi Thompson, which moved her into a tie for 15th at 276. No. 1-ranked Stacy Lewis shot a 70 to take a share of 25th at 278.

For all the scores, visit www.lpga.com.