Teen sensation Ko shines in LPGA pro debut
Print Edition
New Zealand teen Lydia Ko took a share of the lead in her first start as a US LPGA Tour member, matching Meena Lee with a 5-under 68 in the season-opening Bahamas LPGA Classic on Thursday.
The 16-year-old Ko turned pro late last year. She won the Canadian Women’s Open the past two years as an amateur and closed last season with a victory in a non-tour event in Taiwan.
Ranked No. 4 in the world, she had six birdies and a bogey on Atlantis Resort’s Ocean Club course.
“I just tried to play my own game and be relaxed,” Ko said. “I got off to a shaky start and I needed to make a 4-footer for par, but when I made birdie at No. 2, I was able to relax. I was actually shocked that I wasn’t nervous. I felt I even played better than my score. I gave myself a lot of opportunities.”
Lee, from South Korea, eagled the par-4 13th and had four birdies and a bogey.
“I had a wintertime working hard, so that’s why I have more confidence than last year,” said Lee, a two-time winner on the tour. “That’s why I feel very good and happy to play in the first tournament.”
Third-ranked Stacy Lewis was a stroke back at 69 along with Jessica Korda, Brittany Lang, Mirim Lee, Austin Ernst, Danah Bordner, Amelia Lewis, P.K. Kongkraphan and Candie Kung.
Lewis played alongside Ko.
“When she gets some confidence in herself, the rest of this tour better watch out,” said Lewis.
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