World No1 amateur Lydia Ko has stormed home in the final round of the LOTTE LPGA Championship in Hawaii.
The 15-year-old from the Gulf Harbour Country Club, who began the third round in a share of 21st place, jumped inside the top 10 with a superb six under par 66 at the Ko Olina Golf Club in Oahu.
The New Zealand representative, who has never missed a cut in the 16 professional events she has played over the past three years, finished in a share of 10th place in the world class field.
Ko, who will celebrate her 16th birthday this Wednesday, finished nine shots back from the champion Suzann Pettersen of Norway who defeated American Lizette Salas in a playoff.
Following a long stretch in the States Ko will now return home to New Zealand playing the World Ladies Championship on the JLPGA Tour from May 9-12 in Japan.
