The 15-year-old amateur captured her third win in a professional tournament, taking the title by a shot from American Amelia Lewis.
In an outstanding 13-month spell, the world's No 1 amateur has now won 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 victory at home.
The 15-year-old Korean-born New Zealander approached the last hole in a tie for the lead at 10-under par with Lewis. But Lewis, in the penultimate group, three-putted from 25 feet for bogey and Ko, playing in the last group, made par to complete a final round 68.
Ko's effort to beat out 143 golfers was met with a standing ovation from the 1000 odd people surrounding the final hole.
On her New Zealand Open debut, aged 12, Ko finished tied seventh at Pegasus. The following year she was tied fourth and only five shots back from the winner Kristie Smith.
Last year she held the lead heading into the final round before fading to finish tied 17th.
- Herald Online
