comscore Lydia Ko takes No. 1 spot at 17, Na Yeon Choi wins opener | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
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Lydia Ko takes No. 1 spot at 17, Na Yeon Choi wins opener

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  • ASSOCIATED PRESS
    Lydia Ko of New Zealand reacts to her putt on the 10th hole during the first round of the LPGA Coates Golf Championship at the Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club in Ocala, Fla., on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015.

OCALA, Fla. >> With a notable double prize not only within reach, but practically in her grip, teen star Lydia Ko had to settle for half of the spoils Saturday — though it represented a significant piece of golf history, nonetheless.

Though the New Zealander blew a late lead and had to settle for a share of second place at the LPGA Tour’s season opener, where she finished a shot behind Na Yeon Choi, the 17-year-old Ko became the youngest player of either gender to reach No. 1 in the world ranking.

Ko, who held a four-shot lead on the front nine of the inaugural Coates Golf Classic, double-bogeyed the 17th hole during a wild closing stretch, but still eclipsed the mark as the youngest to reach the game’s apex by nearly four years.

Ko shot 1-under 71 to finish at 15 under after holing four birdie putts of 25 feet or longer in the final round at Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club, including a momentum-stealing 60-footer on the 15th to briefly reclaim the lead over Choi, who three-putted the same green from 6 feet.

Yet Choi, who topped the money list in 2010 but hadn’t won since late 2012, took the lead for good when Ko double-bogeyed the 17th after slashing it around in the pine trees down the right side of the hole. Choi closed with a 68.

For Ko, finishing in a tie for second was enough to claim the age distinction, though she had to salvage par from a bunker on the 72nd hole to secure it. Tiger Woods, previously the youngest player of either gender to reach No. 1, was 21 years, 5 months, 16 days when he reached the top in 1997. Ko made the apex in 17 years, 9 months, 7 days.

Jessica Korda had a 66 to join Ko at 15 under.

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