The world is spinning as fast as a Titleist pro V1 for Victoria’s Naomi Ko.
One week after competing in her first LPGA Tour event, the 18-year-old Victoria resident and member of the Canadian national golf team, will tee it up in today’s U.S. Women’s Open.
Ko finished 71st on Sunday at the Cambia Portland Classic, surviving the two-day cut thanks to a bogey-free 3-under 69 in Round 2 on Friday. She turned in a 1-over 73 in the final round after struggling to a 78 on Saturday — all part of her inaugural experience on the LPGA.
She finished her Sunday round just in time to watch former national junior teammate Brooke Henderson successfully defend her title in Oregon, joining in with fellow Canadian Alena Sharp in showering Henderson after sinking her final putt.
“It was all so much fun,” said Ko, who then played a practice round with Henderson and Sharp on Monday at CordeValle Golf Course in San Martin, California, where the USGA event is being held this week.
She was also scheduled to tee it up for nine holes with Lydia Ko, the 19-year-old No. 1 player in the world, on Wednesday. Asked what her favourite memory of the past week was, Naomi couldn’t pick out just one.
“There were so many,” said Ko. “Watching Brooke coming down 18 was cool. We actually teed off at the same time [Ko off the back nine and Henderson off the front]. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to watch her finish, but I did and being in an atmosphere like that, with the huge gallery on the 18th, with the final group coming up was cool.”
Making the cut will also be etched in her memory banks.
“It kind of just happened. In my first round, my ball striking was bad and it was my short game that helped me out. I was fortunate to finish birdie-birdie-par over the last three holes to finish 4-over [last] Thursday. That next day, the 3-under, just made it. I was pretty nervous on whether I would make the cut or not,” she explained.
“And we were treated so well by the volunteers, staff and members. It was so much fun sharing in Brooke’s win, too.”
It’s all part of the learning process for Ko, who will head off to North Carolina State University for her second year in August.
“I think it’s been a good starting point,” she said of playing her way onto the two LPGA events. “This will help me prepare for when I graduate from school. This has been my goal, to be where I am at this time [playing her way into LPGA events as an amateur], but at the same time I’m happy I’ve achieved it.”
