Thirteen year old Lydia Ko showed that last year was no fluke when she finished leading amateur in the top-10 in the Pegasus New Zealand Open.

She shot a final round one-under par 71 in the strong winds to finish in a share of fourth place on seven-under par with Europe’s No 3 ranked Melissa Reid (England).
This follows her performance in finishing seventh last year as well as second in the New South Wales Open recently.

Ko mixed two birdies with one bogey in her round.

“It was so hard out there in those winds but I was proud at how I played. I probably played the shot of the tournament on the 16th today when I chipped from off the back of the green to really close,” Ko said.

“I have learned so much this week from playing with Laura Davies and the other top players.

“It was quite hard today with so many people out watching. I never used to like people around but I am getting used to it now. I am starting to play better with the crowds so it must be working.”

Despite the heavy schedule there’s no break now for the teenager, who competes in the Riversdale Cup in Australia next week before heading to India for the Queen Sirikit Cup, then returns across the Tasman for the Australian Amateur Championships.

Ko can expect to see her world ranking as the leading New Zealand golfer – amateur or professional – jump up from the current place of 252 as well as her ranking as No 5 on the world amateur list.