Ko Rolls to Victory in San Francisco


Lydia Ko came through when it counted the most, carding three birdies in the final six holes to win the inaugural Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic. The $1.8 million, 72-hole event took place at historic and beautiful Lake Merced Golf Club in San Francisco.

Ko, who turned 17 Thursday, played in the final group with 54-hole leader Stacy Lewis and South Korean Jenny Shin. The New Zealander, who started Sunday a shot back of Lewis, kept things close on the front nine after posting three birdies and a pair of bogeys to make the turn at 1-under 35 to tie Lewis, who had all pars. Shin posted two birdies and a bogey.

After a bogey on the 11th, Ko recorded two pars and then reeled off two birdies to take the lead when Lewis bogeyed Nos. 10 and 13. Though Lewis had three birdies coming in, it was too late as Ko matched the Ohio native with a trio of birdies of her own for a 3-under 69 and a 72-hole total of 12-under 276.

Lewis birdied the par-5 closer for a 71 and second place at 11-under, with Shin taking third with a 68 for her best finish on the LPGA Tour. Shin could have joined Lewis as the runner-up, but missed a short birdie putt at the last.

The victory was Ko's first-ever as a member of the U.S. women's tour. The teenager's first two LPGA titles came in the Canadian Women's Open when she was an amateur. In her meteoric career, Ko has also won on the European, Asian and Korean women's tours.

Ko has tremendous respect for Lewis, who she played with all four rounds of the Swinging Skirts Classic. "She's such a great player," Ko said during a greenside interview about Lewis, an eight-time LPGA champion with two major titles. "Someday I want to be a great player like her."

Lewis expressed similar respect for Ko. "I knew she was going to be tough," Lewis said. "She answered every (challenge I threw at her)."

Ko's triumph is expected to move her to second in the upcoming Rolex World Rankings. Inbee Park, who'll remain No. 1, closed with a 68 for a share of fourth with Denmark's Line Vedel (69) and China's Shanshan Feng (70), six strokes back of Ko.

Tied for seventh were Korean Hyo-Joo Kim (70) and Thailand's P.K. Kongkraphan (72).

Rounding out the top 10, tied for ninth were Americans Cristie Kerr (68), Michelle Wie (71) and Brittany Lang (72) along with Frenchwoman and first-round leader Karine Icher, who opened with a 66 but followed up with rounds of 73, 73 and 74.

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