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Lydia Ko Wins Saudi Ladies International For Second Time

Lydia Ko Wins Saudi Ladies International For Second Time

World No. 1 Lydia Ko hit a final-round 68 to claim a one-shot victory at the Aramco Saudi Ladies International.

The New Zealander began the final day trailing American Lilia Vu at Royal Green Golf & Country Club but three birdies on the sixth, 10th, and 17th helped move her to 21-under and a shot clear of India’s Aditi Ashok.

Ko secured her second victory in this tournament with a closing par at the par-five 18th to finish a shot ahead of Ashok who finished with a four-under 68.

This is Ko’s 26th career triumph with her previous victory coming at the LPGA Tour finale at the CME Group Tour Championship in November 2022.

“I’m two for two on this golf course,” Ko said. “Clearly something is going for me! I don’t think I was setting myself up for a lot of birdie opportunities on the front nine, but I knew that every hole could be a birdie opportunity, so it was that mindset and I wanted to be aggressive.”

Overnight leader Vu carded a one-under 71 to finish level at 19-under with fellow American Lexi Thompson and Belgium’ s Manon de Roey.

“Today, I was very solid throughout my whole game actually,” De Roey said. “I think I only had one bad shot. Very happy to finish with a birdie and to have a good start to the LET season to build some confidence for the rest of the year.”

The next event on the Ladies European Tour Calendar is the Joburg Ladies Open taking place at Modderfontein Golf Club from March 1-4.