Ko comes from behind

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bruced
April 27, 2015

Lydia Ko pulled off a come-from-behind victory to claim her seventh LPGA Tour title at the Swinging Skirts Championship in San Francisco on Sunday.

The 18-year-old started the final round in fourth place on six-under, trailing 17-year-old 54-hole leader Brooke Henderson by three shots.

Ko successfully made up the ground, while Henderson faltered and fell down the standings.

Henderson shot five bogeys, a birdie and an eagle to card a two-over 74 and finish on seven-under.

Ko carded four bogeys and six birdies – including one on the final hole – to sign for 70, tie Morgan Pressel for first place on eight-under and force a play-off.

She went on to birdie the second play-off hole, when Pressel could only make par, to win the title for a second consecutive year.

“It’s always a close one whenever I play this event. Last year was the first time that every little shot counted,” she told AP.

“I said, ‘If I want to put some pressure, I need to make a birdie or better on 18. I ended up being good for that.

“But yeah, this tournament always makes my heart clench. I got so nervous. It’s a good thing they’re going in the hole.”

Ko, who turned 18 on Friday, has now won five of her seven titles by making up ground on the final day.

“At the start of the day, I didn’t know how it was going to go. It’s been a great birthday week again.”

Henderson finished in third on seven-under, while Min Seo Kwak was fourth on six-under and Shanshan Feng was fifth on five-under.

Henderson will have to qualify for the next LPGA event, the Volunteers of America North Texas Shootout, despite finishing third.

She was denied LPGA membership last year because she was under 18, meaning that her top 10 finish did not secure her qualification for the next tournament.

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