1 Mar 2015

Ko wins NZ Open again

5:58 pm on 1 March 2015

World golf number one Lydia Ko has won her second New Zealand Women's Open title in Christchurch.

Ko finished on 14 under par, four shots clear of the Australian amateur Hannah Green at the Clearwater course.

A crowd of almost 6,500 turned out to see Ko reclaim the title she won two years ago.

Lydia Ko on the way to winning her 2nd NZ Open

Lydia Ko smashed the Clearwater record in her second round and never looked like losing from there Photo: Photosport

The Aucklander carded a one under par final round of 71, with five birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey.

Prime Minister John Key presented Ko with her trophy.

Ko praised the volunteers and the crowd for offering such strong support over the three-day tournament.

On Saturday Ko smashed the Clearwater course record to take the tournament lead, and she never looked like losing from there.

The 17-year-old's second-round 61 eclipsed the previous record by two strokes, which was set by last year's champion Mi Hyang Lee.

Ko opened with a first round of 70.

The 12-year-old Bohyun Park missed the cut after a second-round 76.