Lydia Ko Comes from Behind to Win BMW Ladies Championship

Korean-New Zealand golfer Lydia Ko came from behind to win the BMW Ladies Championship on Sunday.

In the fourth and final round at Oak Valley Country Club in Wonju, Gangwon Province, Ko made eight birdies and one bogey to finish with a 21-under 267, four strokes ahead of runner-up Andrea Lee of the U.S. With Sunday’s victory, Ko earned US$300,000 in prize money.

Ko started the final round one stroke behind Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand, who led the event to that point, but turned the tournament around with two consecutive birdies on the 10th and 11th holes and three more on the 15th to the 17th holes.

Her second title of the season and 18th career victory on the LPGA Tour came nine months after her win at the Gainbridge LPGA in Florida in January.

It was the first victory in Korea for the star golfer, who was born in Seoul but moved to New Zealand with her parents when she was 6.

Ko, who is currently ranked No. 5 in the world, is engaged to marry Hyundai heir Chung Jun, the son of Hyundai Card vice president Chung Tae-young. They will hold a wedding ceremony at Myeongdong Cathedral on Dec. 30.