Lydia Ko, 15, becomes youngest LPGA Tour winner | Golf

COQUITLAM, B.C. — Lydia Ko captured the Canadian Women's Open on Sunday to become the youngest winner in LPGA Tour history and its fifth amateur champion.

The 15-year-old New Zealander, who was born in South Korea, closed with a 5-under-par 67 for a three-stroke victory at The Vancouver Golf Club. She surpassed the age record of 16 set by American Lexi Thompson last year in the Navistar LPGA Classic.

Ko is the first amateur winner on the LPGA Tour since Kirkland native JoAnne Carner in the 1969 Burdine's Invitational. Carner went on to become a Hall of Famer.

Ko, who won the U.S. Women's Amateur championship earlier this month, finished at 13-under 275, pulling away with birdies on five of the first six holes on the back nine.

"As an amateur winning one of the biggest amateur events, I feel like it was a better win — even though this one was awesome," Ko said.

Ko said she intends to remain an amateur, finish high school and go to college, perhaps at Stanford.

Inbee Park (69) was second. Ex-Washington Huskies golfer Paige Mackenzie (69) tied for 22nd at 2 under.

By The Associated Press