Ko Nabs Second Straight Canadian Women's Open Title


Lydia Ko showed once again she has an affinity for playing amazing golf in Canada. The 16-year-old New Zealand amateur fired a 6-under 64 on Sunday to successfully defend her title in the Canadian Women's Open.

Ko, who won by three shots last year at Vancouver Golf Club, got hot early, carding five birdies on the front nine at Royal Mayfair Golf Club in Edmonton to make the turn in 5-under 30.

She cooled down a bit on the home half, with two birdies and her lone bogey of the day on the par-3 13th, but finished at 15-under 265, a whopping five strokes ahead of France's Karine Icher (67).

For the second straight year Ko forfeited the $300,000 winner's share - making it $600,000 in just those two events in Canada - due to her amateur status. As a result, Icher took home the top prize.

After becoming the youngest winner of an LPGA Tour event in history in 2012, her latest title made Ko the first amateur in history to win two LPGA tournaments. She also won the 2012 U.S. Women's Open.

Ko's other professional wins came in 2012 in the Australia Tour's New South Open and this year in the New Zealand Women's Open, a Ladies European Tour event. With her second win in the Canadian Women's Open, she's projected to rise from 19th in the Rolex World Ranking to seventh while still an amateur.

Ko was asked after her win whether she was considering turning pro and finally being on the receiving end of the victor's spoils. "You know, I've always said I'm thinking about it and that's the same answer right here," she said Sunday afternoon.

"Nothing's changed within the last 72 hours. I'm happy at the moment. I think this win will make us think a little better, and think, what is a good option right now?"

As for her performance Sunday - which matched the low score of the tournament at the Stanley Thompson-designed course, Ko couldn't have been more pleased. "I shot 10-under at the Australian Open earlier this year and that was Round 1 and that was great.

"But today was in a little bit more of a pressure position, so I was really happy with my 64. I got off to a really good start so that really helped my day."

Sharing third at 271 were Brittany Lincicome (69) and 54-hole leader Caroline Hedwall of Sweden. Hedwall, the star in last week's Solheim Cup in Colorado after going a record-setting 5-0 for the victorious European team, closed with a 1-over 71.

Tied for fifth at 272 were American Stacy Prammanasudh (68) and South Korea's I.K. Kim (70). Another stroke back were Germany's Caroline Masson (69) and Norway's Suzann Pettersen (72).

American Gerina Piller (71) took ninth at 274, while at 275 were England's Jodi Ewart Shadoff (71) and Americans Jessica Korda (71) and Paula Creamer (72).

No. 1-ranked Inbee Park tied for 13th at 276 with Japan's Mika Miyazato (69) and Americans Angela Stanford (70) and Brittany Lang (71).

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