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Lydia Ko claims LPGA Tour Championship, Race to CME Globe

By Allsports.com.gh
Sports News Lydia Ko claims LPGA Tour Championship, Race to CME Globe
NOV 24, 2014 LISTEN

Ko, 17, sunk four consecutive pars in the play-off to outlast Spaniard Carlota Ciganda and Paraguayan Julieta Granada after the trio were all square at 10 under through 72 holes at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, Florida.

After Granada was eliminated at the second additional hole, Ciganda was next to falter in dramatic fashion.

Ciganda squandered a chance for birdie from five feet on the third play-off hole and it got worse at the next hole after she sent her second shot into the hazard as Ko won her fifth LPGA Tour title.

Ko, who started the final round three shots off the pace, pocketed a total of $1.5million in Florida after she also claimed the $1m bonus for winning the Race to the CME Globe title - equivalent to the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup.

"When I saw that $1million in the box, I was like, 'Wow, I wonder who the winner of that will be?' It's amazing," said Ko.

"I've never seen that much cash in one place before. This year has been awesome. Three wins, Rookie of the Year, it's a huge honour for me to be here in this position.

"I'm looking forward to what's coming up next year."

Ciganda (70) - who could have won the tournament at the 17th hole but missed a three-foot birdie putt - and Granada (71) both collected $141,743 in prize money.

American Morgan Pressel (72) finished outright fourth at eight under, while compatriot Michelle Wie (70) was a stroke further back alongside German Sandra Gal (72).

South Korean duo Park Hee-young (69) and Ryu So-yeon (73) tied for seventh at five under, a shot ahead of Kim In-kyung (70), Stacy Lewis (71) and Brittany Lang (72).

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