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Lydia Ko becomes youngest LPGA Rookie of the Year

November 13, 2014
Lydia Ko

Lydia Ko captured her first LPGA Tour win as a pro at the the inaugural Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic on April 30.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Lydia Ko has become the youngest player to win the LPGA Tour’s rookie of the year award.

The 17-year-old Ko clinched the points-based award with three tournaments remaining on the LPGA Tour schedule. She already has two victories, two runner-up finishes and nine other finishes in the top 10.

Laura Baugh was 18 when she won the LPGA Tour rookie of the year in 1973.

Ko is No. 3 in the world ranking and No. 4 on the LPGA Tour money list with just over $1.5 million going into the Lorena Ochoa Invitational this week in Mexico.

She’s third in the Race to the CME Globe, which culminates next week in Florida with $1 million going to the winner.

Ko, of New Zealand, was born in Seoul, South Korea.