Lydia Ko of New Zealand became the youngest major champion in LPGA Tour history, closing with an 8-under-par 63 to win by six strokes over Lexi Thompson in the Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France.
Ko, at 18 years, four months and 20 days old, broke the record of Morgan Pressel, who was 18 year, 10 months and nine days old when she captured the 2007 Kraft Nabisco Championship.
Not only that, Ko’s final round is the lowest by an LPGA major winner, beating the mark of 64 set by Karen Stupples of England in the 2004 Women’s British Open.
“To finish with two birdies, finish on the last 72nd hole, with a birdie, it doesn’t happen often, so it’s definitely one of the top rounds of my whole entire life, and I’m sure it will be in my career,” said Ko, who is No. 2 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.
Thompson, who claimed her first major last year in the Kraft Nabisco Championship, was tied for the lead with Ko early on the back nine, before the champion began a run of five birdies in the last eight holes.
Then Lexi, who had four birdies in her first seven holes, stumbled to a double-bogey 5 on the 14th hole and it was all but over.
“I played well enough in my first nine,” said Thompson, who did not make a birdie after her opening run. “I struggled on the back. I kind of lost my tee ball and didn’t hit good iron shots, and it’s kind of hard to beat somebody that shoots 63.”
Shanshan Feng of China shot 70 to finish eight shots back in third, while Ilhee Lee of South Korea also closed with a 70 and tied for fourth with fellow South Korean Mi Hyang Lee, who held at least a share of the lead for three rounds but closed with a 74.
Alison Lee of Valencia and UCLA shot 66 and was another stroke behind in a tie for sixth with Lee-Ann Pace, who had a 70.
Top-ranked Inbee Park, who was trying to complete the Career Grand Slam, posted a 68 and finished 11 shots back in a tie for eighth with two South Koreans, Eun-Hee Lee (72) and Amy Yang (73).
Candie Kung of USC and Fountain Valley carded a 67 and finished in a tie for 11th that included Pressel, who closed with a 75, while Michelle Wie of Stanford recorded a 70 to wind up in a tie for 16th that included third-ranked Stacy Lewis, who had a 68.
