New Zealand golfer Lydia Ko, 15, has lived up to her No.1 world amateur ranking by winning the final of the US amateur women's championship in Ohio.
The Aucklander beat 18-year-old American Jaye Marie Green 3 and 1 at The Country Club course in Cleveland on Monday NZT.
Inspired by her recent successes in amateur golf, Ko is in no hurry to change her life.
"I want to go to college, so turning professional isn't a priority," she said.
"There are so many things to learn as an amateur."
She is the second-youngest champion in US women's amateur history. Kimberly Kim was 10 days short of 15 when she won the 2006 title.
It was a commanding performance by the New Zealander in the final. She led from the start and on the 25th hole she holed a 60-foot chip to go 3 up.
On the par-five 26th she cut through the wind and stopped within a foot of the hole. She made a birdie to Green's par and went 4 up.
Green cut into the lead on the 29th hole when Ko three-putted and made bogey. Green won another hole at the 34th.
But on the par-four 35th, while Green struck a muddy spot and then high grass on her way to the green Ko hit safety on and then two-putted for par to win the hole and the match.
"I've won a medal at each of the three USGA (US Golf Association) tournaments I played in (this summer)," Ko said. "So it's pretty good."
Ko's US women's amateur medal will go with those for being low amateur in the 2012 US women's open and reaching the semi-final round of the US girls junior tournament.
She won the New South Wales Open in Australia in January at 14 to become the youngest player to win a professional tour event.
