CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand – Top-ranked Lydia Ko won the New Zealand Women's Open on Sunday for her second straight victory.
The 17-year-old New Zealander, the Women's Australian Open winner last week for her sixth LPGA Tour title, closed with a 1-under 70 at Clearwater for a four-stroke victory. She has 10 worldwide victories in professional events, also winning at Clearwater as an amateur in 2013.
On Saturday, Ko broke the course record with a career-best 61 to take a three-stroke lead into the final round. She had five birdies, a double bogey and two bogeys Sunday to finish at 14-under 202.
Australian amateur Hannah Green was second after a 68.
Denmark's Nanna Koerstz Madsen was third at 9 under after a 71.
England's Charley Hull had a 75 to tie for sixth at 7 under. Hull pulled within two strokes of Ko with an eagle on the par-5 10th, then fell back with a double bogey on No. 12 — Ko birdied the hole for a three-shot swing — and bogeys on Nos. 15, 17 and 18.
The tournament was sanctioned by the European and Australian tours.
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