A 15-year-old amateur wins the LPGA Canadian Open

Lydia Ko is the youngest player in history to win an LPGA event

Completing the final round in the 2012 CN Canadian Women’s Open, Lydia Ko made golfing history. The story of the tournament was not the touring pros but a 15-year-old South Korea-born amateur from New Zealand. With a final round of 67 and 13 under par, Lydia became the youngest player in history to win an LPGA event. Wearing Tiger Woods’ Sunday red, her statistical performance was quite remarkable. She hit 62 of 72 greens, birdied five of the first six holes on the back nine and was up five strokes going into the last hole. She never exhibited any nervousness until the bogey on the 18th hole. It was quite phenomenal to watch. Going into her final round she said, “I will play my best … and play my own game.” She was right.

Little is known about Ko except that she is still in high school (grade 10)  and dislikes math.  Previous to the Canadian Open she had won one professional event, the New South Wales Open, as well as the 2012 U.S. Women’s Amateur Tournament. Her plans are to remain an amateur until she graduates from high school and she is considering attending Stanford University. Although she won our national championship as an amateur, she is not eligible to receive the $300,000 prize money. Lydia can accept, however, a $750 gift certificate from the Vancouver Golf Club pro shop. Professional Inbee Park finished three strokes back and as second-place finisher gladly accepted the winner’s cheque.

When asked about the money, Ko’s comment was, “When I turn pro, I’ll have that money. Hopefully I’ll have many wins.”

This young lady will win again. Stacey Lewis, the LPGA money leader and second-best woman golfer in the world, summed it up for all golfers when she said:, “It was such an honour just to watch her, I had to say thank you.”

The Canadian Women’s Open

The CN Canadian Women’s Open was held August 20 to 26 at the Vancouver Golf Club in Coquitlam, B.C. Golf Canada is responsible for organizing the tournament and the Canadian National Railway company is the major title sponsor.

Our national tournament is considered by the players to be the fifth major. Defending Canadian Open champion Brittany Lincicome said it best: “It’s an event no girl would miss.” As a result, 48 of the top 50 women golfers in the world participated this year, with 156 professionals and amateurs teeing it up. Some of the LPGA stars were Stacey Lewis, Michelle Wei, Paula Creamer, Inbee Park, Na Yeon Choi, Yani Tseng, Alexia Thompson and defending champion Lincicome. 

Up for grabs was a purse of $2 million and the CN trophy. A total of 15 Canadians competed, ranging from 14-year-old Brooke Henderson, the youngest player ever to compete in a Canadian championship, to veteran Lorie Kane, winner of four LPGA events. Jessica Shepley from Oakville, Ontario, the only Canadian to make the cut, finished tied for 41st place. 

The biggest winner at the tournament was B.C. Children’s Hospital, which received $1.8 million with the CN Miracle Match Program.

CN Future Links and Junior Golf

One of the objectives of the tournament for the LPGA is the promotion of junior girls’ golf.  CN Future Links is Canada’s national junior golf program. The program started in 1996 and since then more than 950,000 young people have taken part. At the Canadian Open, CN also sponsors a skills challenge competition and a Future Links “Walk with a Pro” on one of the holes.

Lincicome, who won the 2011 Canadian Open in Montreal, is ranked 12th in the Rolex world rankings. When asked about defending her title, she said “it would be easier to defend not playing the same golf course as last year.” 

Lincicome not only wanted to defend her title but give something back. On Tuesday of the tournament week Lincicome had already completed her practice round, met the media scrum and by 1:00 p.m. was on the driving range giving a clinic. Her partner for the CN Junior Clinic was Manitoba’s Gail Graham. The two should be in show business, for they entertained the audience with continuous ad-libs as well as delivering good golf tips. Serving as LPGA-USGA Girls Golf National Ambassador, Lincicome seems to be a natural with the junior players. 
I asked Lincicome how to involve more girls in golf.

“Keep it fun … interesting. Encourage them and emphasize the social aspects of golf. They need to stick with it and maybe get a college scholarship or make the LPGA tour.”

It was appropriate that a 15-year-old amateur won this tournament that promotes junior golf. If the LPGA, Golf Canada and CN can continue their partnership, it will only be a matter of time until a Canadian woman wins such a prestigious event.