Golf: Ko leads amateur charge at NZ Open

World No 1 amateur golfer Lydia Ko is easily the most well known but she is among nine amateurs to play at this week's New Zealand Women's Open. Photo / Getty Images.

World No 1 amateur golfer Lydia Ko is easily the most well known but she is among nine amateurs to play at this week's New Zealand Women's Open.

The tournament tees off at Clearwater on Friday and many of the amateurs qualified through different means.

Ko, Wellington No 1 Julianne Alvarez, Auckland sisters Munchin Keh and Wenyung Keh and Sarah Bradley all qualified as the top-five finishers from the 2012 order of merit.

Kate Chadwick, from the Napier Golf Club, secured her place when she defeated Te Rongopai Clay in the New Zealand Maori championship at the Taupo Golf Club.

Two Australian amateurs were offered places in the field by New Zealand Golf. They are Minjee Lee, who won the Australian Amateur, and Su-Hyun Oh, who finished in a share of second place at last week's Volvik RACV Ladies Masters.

The last amateur to book her place in the 144 strong field is Otago representative Laura Hoskin. The Arrowtown golfer was the only amateur to advance from the final qualifying event at the Christchurch Golf Club.

An amateur has never won the New Zealand Women's Open, with Ko coming closest in 2011 when she finished in a share of fourth.