Ko finishes off the pace at US Open

Lydia Ko at the US Open at Pebble Beach, California
Photo: Photosport

New Zealand’s Lydia Ko has finished well off the pace at the third women’s golf major of the year, the US Open at Pebble Beach in California.

Ko shot a final round three over par 75 to finish at eight over for the tournament, 17 shots behind the winner American Allisen Corpuz.

In claiming her first major title Corpuz slotted six birdies to finish three shots clear of the rest of the field.

The wind-whipped Pacific Coast course was no match for the unflappable American, who was the only player to finish all four rounds under par, capping her tournament by carding a three-under par 69.

Ko however struggled for much of the tournament carding only one sub-par round – a one under 71 in the second round rebounding from a horror start to make the cut having shot a four over 74 first up.

Corpuz, who finished tied for fourth at the Chevron Championship earlier this year, posted three birdies on the front nine along with a couple of bogeys.

Another three birdies on the back half, with a bogey on the par-three 17, and she finally allowed a slow smile to crawl across her face as she strode down the 18th fairway, the enormity of her accomplishment sinking in.

Corpuz was only overcome in the end when she wiped happy tears from her eyes, soaking in the roar of the crowd.

-Reuters/RNZ