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Ko wins Aussie Amateur

Ko wins Australian Amateur

01/22/2012 06:11:53 PM

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Young Kiwi star Lydia Ko not only lived up to her billing as the world's No.1 amateur by winning the Australian Amateur title but also became one of the youngest champion's in the event's 118-year history.

The precocious 14-year-old talent added another achievement to her short yet successful career by easily dispatching local Breanna Elliot 4 and 3 in the final at the Woodlands Golf Club in Melbourne on Sunday.

Ko follows in the footsteps of New Zealanders Mrs Guy Williams (1920), Miss Oliver Kay (1933, 1936) and Jan Higgins (1989) by winning the top Australian title.

Unfortunately there are no records of the ages of the champions from the early years of the event but at 14 the North Shore golfer is a certainty to be one of the youngest in history, if not the youngest.

"I am really proud of myself," Ko said. "I won the Australian Stroke Play title last year and finished second in qualifying but this is so much better.

"There has been a lot of pressure all week and I have been really happy with how I have played and to come through to the end and win is amazing.

"To win another national title is a really amazing feeling."

She was always in front in the 36-hole final. Ko won the first hole with a par then reeled off birdies on the fourth, sixth and seventh to claim a heady five-up advantage.

Elliot grabbed one back at the 11th but Ko completed the morning round six-up after a par at the 16th and birdie on 18.

"I was nervous this morning before the final," Ko said. "I haven't played against Bree much but I knew that it was going to be a tough match.

"I had fought back well the past few days so that gave me some confidence. I got off to a good start today and that really helped."

There was some see-sawing the second time around with Elliot putting together a nice run by winning the 24th, 26th, 29th and 30th to get back to four down but Ko held steady from there to shut the match out on the 33rd hole.

"The feeling when I had finally won was just relief. I was so relieved," Ko said.

"We both played very consistently today and it was just a matter of staying relaxed and confident in my game.

"I have played under a lot of pressure and people expect a certain standard from me as the world number one. So when it was all over I was just really happy that I could finally relax.

"She came back into the match when I made a few mistakes as I got tired – it has been a long week – but I always felt like I had the match under control on the second 18 holes."

The win not only writes Ko into the record books, it also gives her an exemption to next month's Australian Open, the opening event of the LPGA Tour season.

"It is going to be nice to take this form into the professional events. People are going to start talking me up like I am going to win all the time. I don't know about that.

"But if I play like I played here this week then I think I am capable of coming in the top five in a pro event. I am happy with where my game is at."

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images
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