Ko holds nerve to become youngest tour winner, aged 14

At 14, Lydia Ko of New Zealand yesterday became the youngest winner of a professional golf tour event when she won the New South Wales Open by four strokes.

Ho, the world's top amateur, shot a three-under par final round of 69 to finish on 14 under, four strokes clear of Becky Morgan of Wales in the 54-hole tournament at Oatlands Golf Club in Sydney. Laura Davies of England closed with a 71 and a 54-hole total of 216, 14 strokes behind.

"To be part of history is a miracle," Ko said. "It's not something you can have by clicking your fingers. My driver and iron play were the nicest to me over the past two days. I also putted well, but was in good position on most of the greens because I was able to make approaches from good places on the fairways."

Ko, a grade 11 student at North Harbour near Auckland, plans to play 30 tournaments this year, including professional events over the next two weeks at the Australian Masters at Royal Pines on the Gold Coast and the LPGA's Australian Open at Royal Melbourne.

"I'll play in mostly amateur tournaments after that, and my schedule looks pretty busy for the next several months," Ko said.