Lydia Ko of New Zealand and Kristie Smith of Australia pose with their trophies after day four of the Women's New Zealand Open at Pegasus Golf Club. Photo / Getty Images
Lydia Ko of New Zealand and Kristie Smith of Australia pose with their trophies after day four of the Women's New Zealand Open at Pegasus Golf Club. Photo / Getty Images
Lydia Ko stole the show without winning the New Zealand Women's Open golf championship today.
The uncommonly gifted Auckland teenager finished tied for fourth at a windblown Pegasus after a closing round of one-under par 71 in the 200,000 euro Ladies European Tour event.
That left her on seven-under 281for the championship, ahead of such luminaries as former world No 1 Laura Davies and trailing the winner, Australian Kristie Smith, by five strokes.
The 13-year-old, who finished in a share of 12th at this month's Australian Women's Open, was of course the leading amateur, ahead of 16-year-old Cecilia Cho, who tied for 33rd.
"I just managed, I guess," Cho said in modesty after a closing round played in extremely difficult northwesterly winds which buffeted the course all day.
"I played what I think of as my shot of the tournament on the 16th," Ko said before explaining how her approach to the par four ran through the green.
Her chip struck the flag and left her with a three-footer for par, which she duly achieved.
"At one stage there I thought a bogey would be a good score."
Crowd numbers today reached 4400, lifting the weekend attendance to 12,220, an increase of 1000 on last year's tournament.
Ko, who has played in only a handful of professional events, said she was still getting used to appearing in front of large crowds.
"I don't particularly like it but I know I have to start enjoying it."
