Larsen leads New Zealand Women’s Open, Lydia Ko 3 behind

World number one Lydia Ko has become the first golfer to win New Zealand’s Lonsdale Cup in its 54-year-history after receiving the award for 2015.

“I thought it was pretty cool”, Ko said about the earthquakes afterwards. “It wasn’t me it was the ground moving that made it go away from the hole”.

The 18-year-old Kiwi said that a three-under-par 69 on Friday did not represent her best golf but was pleased with a second round of five-under 68.

She backed that up with a birdie two on the par-3 11th and while she had plenty of chances to extend her lead she didn’t need them as her rivals flatlined on a warm but breezy afternoon.

World number one and overwhelming tournament favourite Lydia Ko was the first to admit that she hadn’t brought her “A” game with her to Clearwater today, but such is the quality of the 18-year-old she was able to grind it out and shoot another sub 70 round on a course where she had a course record 61 last year.

An emotional Ko – perhaps more emotional than we have ever seen her before – struggled her way through her speech at the prize-giving because she was crying so much when she talked about former NZ Golf president Patsy Hankins, being home, and winning her home open again.

After completing her press duties and getting some lunch, the world No. 1 was straight back to the driving range to “try to find some good feels” in her swing.

Ko’s success follows her victories in the event in 2013 and 2015.

Ko is tied with Frenchwoman Justine Dreher, who has two holes to play in her second round. The 2015 LET Rookie of the Year was seven-under-par for the day – and the tournament – but a missed par putt on the last mean that she will start the final round two shots off the lead at six-under alongside Scotland’s Pamela Pretswell and and fellow Dane Nanna Koerstz Madsen.

Ko made the turn in even-par 36 and had dropped out of the lead as American Amelia Lewis was five-under par through 15 holes and a great chance to win her maiden title.

The Florida-based pro hit the ball superbly on the opening nine holes but she could not convert with the putter.

And she’s right: the second highest ranked player is Nicole Larsen of Denmark – at 73.

Ko, who started her round with a birdie at the 10th, said she did not fully exploit warm and calm conditions during her morning round, particularly on the greens.

Apart from Dreher, Ko’s final round challengers will include her playing partner from the first two days, Emily Kristine Pedersen.