Ko ties for fourth in latest LPGA event

The Korean admitted she was not really conscious of her streak until playing partner Jessica Korda reminded her at the 17th hole.

Ko hit three birdies and three bogies on the final day at Incheon to finish the tournament at 13 under par, two strokes behind the victor. With Ko going through a lethargic final round and Park unable to sink putts, Thompson took advantage with three consecutive birdies starting at the par-5 seventh. She had two bogeys and an eagle to finish with an even par 71. She won the Meijer Classic in late July and finished runner up to Ko at the Evian Championship last month.

As for victor Thompson, it was her second triumph of the year and sixth overall and she said: “It’s very satisfying”. Yang entered the final round with virtually no chance at challenging for the lead, which gave her the green light to be aggressive. “I don’t know what just happened”.

“I’m overall a very aggressive player”, Thompson said.

“I always look forward to coming back to South Korea and playing in front of these awesome fans”. “It’s great to see the big crowds and to hear them cheering on everybody in between shots or in between holes”. “I was throwing up a lot, and I just didn’t have any energy when I got here”. It’s just go out there and play and quit worrying about positions, etc. It’s showing.

Yani Tseng made birdie at the last but finished just one shot shy of Lexi Thompson.

Tseng hopes victory will finally come on home soil, when the LPGA Tour’s annual Asian swing takes in the Fubon LPGA Taiwan Championship starting Thursday. “I know every week is getting close, and next week in Taiwan, it would be a great win in Taiwan”. The 18-year-old South Korean-born New Zealander rallied, driving the short par-4 15th to set up a two-putt birdie and making a 10-foot birdie putt on the par-3 17th. She grabbed her only birdie of the day at the 18th to join Tseng in second. “Still try to do my best to win the game and to fight to the end”.

Lydia Ko admits it will be among the more special titles of her glowing career if she can hold on to win the LPGA Tour event in her native Korea.

Lydia Ko’s bid for the world No. 1 ranking came up just two shots short of overtaking Inbee Park.

Ko finally made a birdie at the 16th, but settled for pars over the final two holes.

With a victory on Sunday, Ko can overtake Park In-bee of South Korea for the No. 1 spot in the world rankings and the tour’s money list, and also in the Player of the Year points race.

Park shot a 69 Sunday to finish at eight-under, good for a six-way tie for 15th.

Joint runner-up Park was the talk of much of the week, the 22 year old LPGA Tour event debutante opening with a course record round of 62 and then sharing the lead into the final round.

Thailand’s Moriya Jutanugarn and South Korea’s Yoon-Ji Cho were two strokes back at 11 under.