Lydia Ko wins New Zealand Open despite fears of earthquake

World No 1 Lydia Ko (19) has garnered her first championship title of this season in her motherland of New Zealand despite a powerful earthquake.

This happened in the third round of the Ladies European Tour (LET) New Zealand Open, which took place at Clear Water Golf Club (par 72) in Christchurch, New Zealand on Sunday. A earthquake with magnitude 5.8 in Richter scale broke out at a location about 10 kilometers from the course about 11 minutes before Lydia Ko teed off while she was leading with a one-shot difference, which caused fears among local residents and foreign tourists alike. Despite chaotic situation amid as many as 52 aftershocks that followed for five hours after the first tremor, Ko had 2-under 70 by making three birdies and one bogey in the round to post 10-under 206 overall and clinch the title.

As a result, Ko has earned her third win in the tournament after 2013 and 2015, and her second consecutive win in the event. She briefly ranked second after failing to reduce her number of pars through Hole 9, but reclaimed the lead with birdies on the 10 and 11 holes. “Earthquake has never occurred while (I) was playing golf games. It was fortunate that the quake did not strike while I was swinging,” she said breathing a sigh of relief. “New Zealand has given me a lot of support, and I will donate the entire purse money (20,000 US dollars) from this event to charity.”

Choi Hye-jin (18), an amateur and a member of the Korean national team, tied for second by a two-shot difference with Ko, and received the "Best Amateur" trophy.

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