Na-Yeon Choi wins in Florida
Na-Yeon Choi ended with a four under 68 to take the Coates Golf Championship title on Saturday.
The South Korean took advantage of a double bogey on the 17th by Lydia Ko to snatch a win at the Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club in Ocala.
Choi started off well, with four birdies on the first seven holes. A bogey on the ninth set her back but a couple birdies on the 12th and 14th moved her in contention again. Nerves lead to bogey on the 15th but she held on for three pars to close out her round.
Despite the win, Choi revealed there was much pressure from home to do well.
“I know they have a lot of expectations from me because they think I’m a good player, so they always want me being a champion and win a tournament,” said the 27-year-old on lpga.com.
“But this is golf and there’s like more than 30 tournaments a year. And still last year I missed the cut twice, but that was the most I have in like the last seven years and they think I got like a slump.”
Choi finished one stroke ahead of Lydia Ko, fellow South Korean Ha-Na Jang and Jessica Korda.
The tied for second finish was enough for the 17-year-old to become the youngest world number one in the history of the game.
“It’s amazing…I didn’t know that, I didn’t really know what I needed to do to get in that position,” said the New Zealander.
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