Top-ranked amateur golfer Lydia Ko set a record on Sunday by winning her third title at the New Zealand Women's Open, as she was already the youngest player to win a professional title.
According to the Associated Press, Ko has done something unprecedented in the past 13 months, winning the New South Wales Open to become the youngest player, male or female, to win a professional event; the Canadian Open to become the youngest-ever winner on the LPGA Tour; and now a professional tournament at home in New Zealand.
The 15-year-old Korean-born New Zealander and professional golfer was tied for the lead on the last hole and made par to finish her final round at 68 to take home the title.
She won against a number of big names in the tournament, including Alison Walshe, Christina Kim, Cheyenne Woods and Belen Mozo. Ko made history last August when she won the the Canadian Women's Open to become the youngest winner in LPGA Tour history as the fifth ever amateur champion.
"I'll still remain an amateur and then finish high school and then go to college," said Ko to the Associated Press. "I mean this is a great win, but I don't think this will affect me changing my roots to my career."
At that tournament Ko set a record by shooting a five-under 67, giving her a three stoke victory. At the time she was the first amateur winner since JoAnne Carner in the 1969 Burdine's Invitational.
"To break another record, or being in the history, it's amazing, and it's always awesome to be able to play with the pros," said Ko, the top-ranked female amateur in the world. "The last few holes, it got a bit nerve wracking, but Stacy Lewis, after my birdie on 15, she said, 'You know you can do it.' It was really great to have another player that I look up to giving me that much support. So it was really awesome."
Ko now has three titles to her name and is well on her way to a successful professional career.
