Golf: Ko joint second in Britain

Lydia Ko. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Teen sensation Lydia Ko is in a five-way share of second place at the British women's amateur golf championship.

The Auckland 14-year-old posted a three-under-par 71 in the opening round at Royal Portrush Golf Club today to travel Australian Minjee Lee by three strokes.

Ko's New Zealand teammate Cecilia Cho was also prominent, signing for a 73 which was good enough ti leave her in a share of ninth place.

Chantelle Cassidy was not so fortunate, a 77 seeing her tied for 51st while Emily Perry had a round to forget, a 10-over 84 leaving her towards the tail of the field in 111th equal, and Julianne Alvarez also failed to flatter with an 85..

Ko, 14 and the reigning New Zealand and Australian amateur champion, showed why she hold's down the world's No 1 amateur ranking, as she coolly plotted her way around Royal Portrush on a calm, cloudy day.

Her card did not feature a single bogey while her three birdies all came on par-fives, at the second, ninth and 10 holes.

Fifteen-year-old Lee was even more impressive while Ko shared second place with four others -- Canadian Nicole Vandermade, Norway's Marita Engzelius, Sophia Popov, of Germany, and Spain's Camilla Hedberg.


- NZPA