Golf: Ko, Cho tipped out of British amateur

Lydia Ko. Photo / Brett Phibbs

The world's two best ranked players have been unceremoniously dumped out of the British women's amateur golf championship.

New Zealand's world no 1 Lydia Ko and No 2 Cecilia Cho were both eliminated in the second round of matchplay at Royal Birkdale in Northern Ireland today.

Fourteen year-old Ko, who had qualified fourth after two rounds of strokeplay, exited the championship after being beaten 2 and 1 by Ireland's defending champion Kelly Tidy, who had the advantage of playing on her home course.

England international Lauren Taylor accounted for fellow 16-year-old Cho by a comfortable 3 and 2 margin.

Taylor made a decisive move approaching the turn, posting birdies at the seventh, eighth and ninth holes to turn a one-hole deficit into a two-hole lead.

"I was so nervous over the last four holes. I went three up when Cecilia three-putted the 12th and then just hung on for nerve-racking halves at the next four holes to finish the match," Taylor said.

"I played really well all day but I can hardly believe that I have beaten the world number two."

In the first round, Ko had accounted for Scotland's Ailsa Summers 3 and 2 while Cho beat South African Bertine Strauss 4 and 3.

- NZPA