Lydia Ko in six-way tie at the New Zealand Women's Open

February 17, 2012 | by

Lydia Ko

World's No.1 amateur Lydia Ko is tied for lead with five professionals at 6-under par

PEGASUS, Christchurch, New Zealand (Feb. 17, 2012) -- Super-teen golfer Lydia Ko has battled her way into contention going into tomorrow’s final round of the ISPS Handa New Zealand Open hosted by Christchurch. The 14 year old, one of the smallest in the field, braved the blustery winds best to shoot a 3- under-par 69 and move into a six-way share of the lead at six under par at the Pegasus Golf and Sports Club. Ko, who opened with a three under par 69, was four under for her round and the outright leader at seven under par before she made bogey at the penultimate hole and then made par on 18 to sign for a 69. “The goal for today was five under but I don’t feel like I didn’t achieve what I wanted to because I played good and I putted good so I am happy,” said the North Shore golfer. Almost 4,000 local golf fans came out to watch the tournament today with the World No.1 amateur once again attracting the lion’s share of the gallery. She didn’t disappoint as she opened with a birdie. Ko went onto make a bogey on three and then made birdies on 4, 5, 11 and 13 before dropping the shot at the last. The biggest roar on the day came when she made a fine two on the par 3 11th. “In my mind it was just a par hole so if you make birdie then you are a genius so when it went in I was like “Woah”,” said Ko in her humble way. Players took advantage of the still morning conditions to move up the leaderboard headed by the trio of Colombia’s Mariajo Uribe, Australia’s Lindsey Wright and former Northlander Haeji Kang (Korea) to share the clubhouse lead on six-under par, as the winds picked up early in the afternoon with strong southerlies proving a challenge. Three other players Ko, American Alison Walshe (70) and Spain’s Carlota Ciganda (69) handled those conditions superbly to make six players tied for the lead.

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