Runner up aims to go one better

Lydia Ko will take her experience from the New South Wales Open into the Women's Australian Open. Photo / Christine Cornege

A 13-year-old North Shore girl came within a whisker of winning a major Australian golf tournament - and hopes to learn from the experience for her next outing.

Pinehurst School student Lydia Ko was 1-up heading into the 18th hole of the New South Wales Open in Sydney on Sunday, but was beaten by Sweden's Caroline Hedwall.

Had she won, the Korean-born amateur would have been the youngest to win a professional women's tournament in Australia.

That record is held by Amy Yang, who won the 2006 Australian Ladies Masters aged 16.

"I'm a little disappointed, I had a chance there. But I'll get over it, and I'm still proud of myself," she said.

Guy Wilson, Lydia's coach at the North Shore Institute of Golf, said it was only a matter of time before she won such an event.

"She sort of laughed it off yesterday and didn't mind it at all. Because she said she doesn't get any money for winning so it doesn't matter if she comes second. And that's the way we see it, really."

Mr Wilson said Lydia's performances were not the result of prodigious talent alone.

"Everyone's saying she's only 13, and oh my God this is amazing. But the amount of hours she's practised, she's probably practised more than most 30-year-old golfers."

That work includes exercises with suspension bands that have helped Lydia squeeze a 230m drive out of her 1.65m frame.

Lydia trains for around 30 to 35 hours every week, which she admits doesn't leave time for anything other than "hanging out with friends".

Her parents moved to New Zealand in 2003 so she could have easier access to golfing facilities. She is a New Zealand citizen with few doubts about her allegiances.

"I can remember more of New Zealand than Korea, so to me New Zealand is home."

She aims to join the American Ladies Professional Gold Association by age 17 or 18, and dreams of a win in the British or US Opens.

For now Lydia is focused on the Women's Australian Open beginning next week.

"The New South Wales Open was a lead in to the Aussie Open, so I'll have more confidence and experience to take into it."