New Zealand's Lydia Ko became the youngest champion in the history of the LPGA Tour on Monday (AEST) by firing a 5-under-par 67 to capture the Canadian Women's Open by three strokes.
The 15-year-old South Korean-born Ko finished the 72 holes on 13-under-par 275 at the Vancouver Golf Club course to beat South Korea's Park Inbee by three shots.
Ko, who is four months past her 15th birthday, is also the fifth amateur winner and also the first since JoAnne Carner captured the Burdine's Invitational in 1969.
Ko is 16 months younger than Lexi Thompson, who was the previous youngest winner on the Tour at 16 years, eight months. Thompson set the mark when she won an LPGA event in Alabama last year.
Ko was born 11 days after Tiger Woods won his first Masters in 1997.
The New Zealander pulled away in the final round with birdies on five of the first six holes on the back nine.
She began the tournament with two straight 68s and shot a 72 on Saturday, giving her a two-shot lead heading into Sunday's final round.
She finished five strokes ahead of South Koreans Choi Na-yeon, Shin Ji-yai and Chella Choi, who finished in a tie for third place at eight-under 280.
Earlier this year, Ko won the New South Wales Open in Australia at 14 to become the youngest player to win a professional tour event. Ko also won the US Women's Amateur two weeks ago in Ohio.
AFP
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