South Korea’s Mi Hyang Lee shot the round of her life to upset Lydia Ko and claim her first professional win at the New Zealand Women’s Open in Christchurch.
The 20-year-old world No.256 began Sunday’s final round eight shots from the lead but carded a course record nine-under-par 63 to hold off world No.4 and defending champion Ko by one stroke.
The final group of Ko (70) and Americans Beth Allen (70) and Anya Alvarez (73) all had the chance to force a playoff on Clearwater course’s final hole but Allen and Alvarez missed the green and made bogeys to tie third and Ko missed her birdie chance from 25 feet.
Lee said she never believed she could overhaul the deficit she faced.
“It’s my best score in my life and I made the course record too, so I am so happy now,” she said after claiming the title at nine-under.
Her 63 – which included seven birdies and an eagle – broke the course record of compatriot Seon Woo Bae who shot 64 in the second round of the championship last year.
Sarah-Janes Smith (65) and Bree Arthur (66) finished strongly to be the leading Australians in a tie for sixth at five-under.
Sixteen-year-old Ko and Lee had both battled stomach bugs during the tournament.
“I think I played pretty good for my health and obviously Mi Hyang played great as well, 63 is a pretty amazing score,” said Ko.
After playing just her second tournament as a pro, Ko will rest this week – missing the Australian Ladies Masters on the Gold Coast – ahead of the Australian Women’s Open.
“I’m feeling much better but at the halfway point I got some really bad stomach aches so that didn’t go too well,” she said.
“But our family’s either got the flu bug or stomach bug so it’s not really good right now.”