New Zealand’s Lydia Ko cruised to victory Sunday after shooting a seven-under-par 65 for an aggregate of 268 in the $2 million Fubon LPGA Taiwan Championship.
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The 18-year-old, who turned professional in October 2013, became the youngest player in LPGA Tour history to secure 10 wins. She also became the first player to win five times this season.
With her victory, Ko is projected to take over the No1 spot from South Korea’s Park Inbee in the Women’s World Golf Rankings.
“To become world No1 during the season, it’s been great. And to have won my first professional event as a professional here in Taiwan and then had my 10th LPGA win here, it’s pretty cool,” she said. “It’s an exciting time.”
Ko, who overtook halfway leader Ji Eun-Hee of South Korea on Saturday, kept widening her lead yesterday as rain that had hampered play in the first three rounds halted.
Despite a bogey on the par-three seventh hole, Ko netted four birdies in the front nine, and in the back nine added two others and an eagle in the par-five hole 12.
The stellar performance left her nine strokes above Ji and fellow South Korean Ryu So-Yeon, who tied for second place with 277.
“Everyone talks about how young she is… she’s still a teenager, so it’s really hard to believe how she played,” Ryu said.
Britain’s Charley Hull carded a two-under-par 70 for an aggregate 278 and solo fourth place. Norway’s Suzann Pettersen came in fifth after firing a four-under par 68 for a total of 279.
