By F. Edwin Miller
15-year-old Lydia Ko can add another unwordly accolade to her even more unworldly resume.
After accepting the Mark H. McCormack Medal last year as the top ranking female amateur in the world, the then 14-year-old Ko won the Bing Lee/Samsung Women’s New South Wales Open on the Australian Ladies Professional Golf Tour (ALPG) in January. The event made her the youngest person to ever win a professional golf tour event. Yet somehow, the teen has found a way to outdo herself.
For the past 68 weeks and counting (and entering last year’s rankings), Ko has remained at number one. Her consistent play has earned her a second McCormack Medal according to officials from the R&A and U.S. Golf Association.
(Matt Roberts, Getty Images AsiaPac)
“It’s pretty amazing,” said Ko about her streak.
“After I got the medal last year, I haven’t lost the No.1 position since then. It’s good to continue it. I’ll continue to get more invites to professional events. It’s always good to be World No. 1.”
To continue her string of success, Ko defeated American, Jaye Marie Green, to seize the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship title at The Country Club in Cleveland, Ohio little under a week ago.
Other wins for the teen include the 2012 Australian Women’s Amateur and the 2012 U.S. Women’s Open where she earned a silver medal as the top amateur player. However, the teen had a historic year in 2011 when she became the first player to win the Australian Ladies’ Stroke Play and New Zealand Ladies’ Stroke Play in the same year. In addition, she won the 2011 New Zealand Women’s Amateur Matchplay Championship.
“It’s good to have your name along with those big names,” said Ko about others who have held the number one position. “There are so many great players’ names on there.”
The 2012 McCormack Medal reserves her a spot in the 2013 U.S. Women’s Open; yet more importantly, an opportunity to play against “so many” of those “great players.” Look for Ko to add another win to that special resume of hers in 2013.
