Lydia Ko clears away as world's best amateur

Outstanding Kiwi teenager Lydia Ko has extended her lead at the top of the world amateur golf rankings following her win at the Australian amateur title in Melbourne.

The 14-year-old, who was the youngest player to win the title on record, earned 186 points from her win at the Woodlands Golf Club to jump to 1919.05 average points.

She leads South African Kim Williams (1738.98) by almost 200 points to be comfortably the best female amateur in the world.

Ko, who took the mantle of world No 1 last April when she won the New Zealand strokeplay and New Zealand amateur titles in Christchurch, has been the game's best for almost nine months.

Even when she had three months off at the end of last season for minor wrist surgery, Ko's position was never threatened.

Her New Zealand teammate Cecilia Cho, who plans to turn professional in March, remains the world No 3 following a disappointing showing at the Australian Amateur.

Cho, who had finished runner-up at the event previously, was soundly beaten 5 and 3 in round one. The two-time New Zealand Amateur champion is just behind Williams on 1738.33 average points.

Wellington's Julianne Alvarez has climbed 12 places to 106 in the world, Auckland's Wenyung Keh jumped 13 places to be 109 and Sarah Bradley slipped 21 places to be 151.

Zoe Brake (211), Kristin Farrell (224) Chantelle Cassidy (228) and Emily Perry (262) are the next highest ranked Kiwis.

Meanwhile, Masterton golfer Ben Campbell slips two places after bowing out in the second round of the Australian Amateur but he remains the New Zealand No 1 by some distance.

The 21-year-old, who is based in Melbourne and has been as high as eighth in the world, is now ranked the 55th best golfer by the R and A rankings.

Campbell, who finished fourth in the individual standings of the 2010 Eisenhower, is looking for a big 2012 in the lead up to the World Teams Championship in Turkey.

Southland golfer Vaughan McCall, who finished fifth in qualifying for Australian Amateur only to lose in the opening round, climbed 43 places to 168 in the world, while New Zealand Amateur champion Mathew Perry also moved up in the standings by 51 spots to 191.

- © Fairfax NZ News