Ko named LPGA's top rookie

Daytona Beach, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Lydia Ko was named the LPGA Rookie of the Year on Wednesday.

Ko locked up the honor with three events still remaining on the schedule. She is already a two-time winner on the tour this year, finished as the runner-up twice and has added nine other top-10 results.

"It's really been a dream rookie season for me," said Ko in a statement released by the LPGA. "I learned so much and am glad to have achieved some of my goals along the way. It's an honor to have my name now etched alongside such amazing players and legends of the game on the list of Rookie of the Year winners."

Ko, just 17 years old, became the eighth Rookie of the Year winner since the award's inception in 1962 to have multiple wins in her first year. She enters this week's Lorena Ochoa Invitational ranked third in the Race to the CME Globe and fourth on the official money list with $1.564 million.

In addition, Ko's streak of 40 straight made cuts is the best on tour and she became the youngest winner of a tour event. Laura Baugh, at age 18 in 1973, had been the youngest.

Nine previous Rookie of the Year winners have gone on to Hall of Fame careers: Joanne Carner (1970), Amy Alcott (1975), Nancy Lopez (1978), Beth Daniel (1979), Patty Sheehan (1981), Juli Inkster (1984), Annika Sorenstam (1994), Karrie Webb (1996) and Se Ri Pak (1998).