Golf: Ko youngest winner of rookie award

Lydia Ko. Photo Reuters
Lydia Ko. Photo Reuters
Kiwi golfer Lydia Ko has become the youngest player to win the LPGA Tour's rookie of the year award.

The 17-year-old Ko clinched the points-based award with three tournaments remaining on the LPGA Tour schedule.

In her first full season on the tour as a professional, Ko won twice, had two runner-up finishes and nine additional top 10s.

Laura Baugh was 18 when she won the LPGA Tour rookie of the year in 1973.

Ko is No 3 in the women's world ranking and is No 4 on the LPGA Tour money list with just over US$1.5 million going into the Lorena Ochoa Invitational this week in Mexico.

She also is third in the Race to the CME Globe, a season race that culminates next week in Florida with US$1 million going to the winner.

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