Golf: Ko, Cho progress at British amateur

Lydia Ko. Photo / Brett Phibbs

New Zealand's world No 1 Lydia Ko has safely negotiated her way into the matchplay phase of the British women's amateur golf championship in Northern Ireland.

The Auckland 14-year-old completed the second round of strokeplay qualifying in sixth position at Royal Portrush Golf Club today.

The reigning Australian and New Zealand amateur champion carded an one-under-par 73 in tough conditions on the 6401m layout for a two-round card of four-under 144, to sit four shots shy of the leading qualifier, Spain's Camilla Hedberg.

Ko's teammate Cecilia Cho also comfortably qualified, finishing 10th among the 64 players to advance from an original field of 128.

Cho, 16 and the world No 2, signed for her second successive 73 to join Ko for the business end of the championship.

Three other New Zealanders failed to qualify, with Chantelle Cassidy 82nd after rounds of 77 and 82, Julianne Alvarez shooting 85 and 87 to be 117th and Emily Perry not completing the second round after carding an 85 yesterday.

Ko, whose card contained four birdies and three bogeys, said her round was "fairly average with ups and downs throughout the round but the final score was not so bad".

"The whole course was windy and very wet in the afternoon.

"On one hole where I hit a seven iron yesterday, I had to hit three wood today and it was still not enough."

Ko and Cho are bidding to become the first New Zealander to win the British title since Marnie McGuire in 1986.

- NZPA