North Harbour teenager Lydia Ko has become the first New Zealand golfer to win the trophy as leading amateur in the Australian Women's Open, firing a final round two-over par 75 to finish on three under in a tie for 12th place.
The talented 13 year old finished five shots ahead of her Srixon Academy team-mate Cecilia Cho in the battle for leading amateur, with the two New Zealanders and Korean Annie Choi the only amateurs to make the cut.
Ko says she's pleased with how well she coped with the difficult conditions on the final day at Commonwealth Golf Club in Melbourne.
Ko will bypass next week's Ladies Masters in Queensland to prepare for the New Zealand Open starting on February the 17th.
Defending champion Taiwan's Yani Tseng made it two in a row at the Open firing a two-under par 71 to finish on 16-under.
