Ko captures 18th pro win in record style

World No.1 Lydia Ko has powered to a three-stroke win at the NW Arkansas Championship finishing with a tournament record 17 under.

Lydia Ko displays the trophy, her third so far this year. PHOTO: Jamie Squire/Getty Images.

It was the 19-year-old’s 13th LPGA Tour win, her 18^th as a professional, and her third for the season.

The foundation of Ko’s victory was laid in the second round when she posted a course record nine under 62, which included seven birdies and an eagle on the final hole. Her back nine was completed in an incredible 28 strokes.

Her 62 was only good enough to grab a share of the lead with American Morgan Pressel, who also took a liking to the Pinnacle Country Club course in carding a 63.

The pair were two strokes ahead of their nearest rival heading into the final round but it was Ko who fired the first shots in the top of the leaderboard duel. The Kiwi birdied four of her first five holes to pull ahead of Pressel, who made a soft bogey at the 2^nd hole but pulled that shot back at the next.

Pressel bounced back with birdies at the 7^th and 8^th holes to stay within two shots of Ko. But the American made four consecutive bogeys from the 11^th hole to fall out of contention as Ko grabbed the tournament by the scruff of the neck.

FINAL LEADERBOARD

South Korea’s Candie Kung had her best finish of the 2016 season with her final round 69 drawing her alongside Pressel in second place at 14 under.

Ko, despite a bogey at the final hole, carded a three under 68 to win with a 17 under total, which set a new low tournament scoring record by two shots in Arkansas. It was here third victory of the year, having also won the Kia Classic and ANA Inspiration in back-to-back weeks in March.

Ko walks toward the 17th green wearing an Arkansas Razorbacks hat.
PHOTO: Jamie Squire/Getty Images.

“I played really solid all week, especially around the front nine, I was hitting the ball really well and that helped me,” said Ko, who finished tied sixth, tied second and tied fourth in this event in each of the past three years.

“Today, on the back nine I think the sun got to me a little bit … I started to feel a little but I was trying to grind my way out. It wasn’t the fanciest finish, finishing off with a bogey, but I just think of it as me bogeying another hole.

“It was a great week and it is good for my confidence heading to the US Open in a few weeks.”

Minjee Lee was again the best of the Australians in Arkansas, finishing at 12 under (five shots behind Ko) after a final round 67 to finish tied eighth. Victoria’s Su Oh and Queensland’s Sarah Jane Smith were a further five shots back in a tie for 32^nd.