Amateur sensation Lydia Ko carded a final round 5-under par 67 Sunday to win the 2012 CN Canadian Women's Open at The Vancouver Golf Club in Coquitlam.
Entering the day atop the leaderboard with a single stroke advantage over Stacy Lewis, Inbee Park, Chella Choi and Jiyai Shin, Ko, the top-ranked amateur in the world and the reigning U.S. Women's Amateur champion, converted seven birdies and posted just two bogeys on Sunday, en route to posting a four-day tally of 13-under par 275 for a three-stroke win over Park, who finished solo second at 10-under par 278.
Ko is the first amateur in tournament history to win Canada's National Women's Open Championship title. She also claimed the Marlene Stewart Streit low amateur medal as the tournament's top amateur.
"It's great to win, and 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," said Ko, who earned a berth in the LPGA Tour's season-ending CME Group Titleholders event with the win. "It feels amazingIt's always awesome to be able to play with the pros."
At 15 years, 4 months and 2 days, Ko becomes the youngest winner in LPGA Tour history, eclipsing the previous mark set by Lexi Thompson, who was 16 years, 8 months and 8 days when she won the 2011 Navistar LPGA Classic. She also becomes only the fifth amateur in LPGA Tour history to win an official event and the first in more than 40 years, the last being JoAnne Carner, who claimed the 1969 Burdine's Invitational.
The victory is Ko's second win at a professional event in 2012. She won the New South Wales Open on the Australian LPGA (ALPG) in January to become the youngest winner in history on a professional golf tour at the age of 14 years, 9 months and 5 days. That record was eclipsed in June by Team Canada Development Squad member Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont. Henderson bested the field at a CN Canadian Women's Tour event in Beloeil, Que. at 14 years, 9 months and 3 days.
As an amateur, Ko was unable to accept the $300,000 winners' cheque, which was awarded to Park as the second place finisher.
Shin, Chella Choi and Na Yeon Choi finished tied for third at 8-under par 280, five strokes off the lead.
Jessica Shepley of Oakville, Ont. finished tied for 41st and earned the Sandra Post medal as the Championship's low Canadian for the second consecutive year with a score of 2-over par 290. Of the 15 Canadians in the initial player field, Shepley was the lone competitor to qualify for weekend play.
"I think it just shows how much I love this country and I love playing here, and in front of my family and friends," said Shepley. "It's always good when you play well in your home country. It's always been a good confidence booster for me to come out west. I love it out here."
