Ko misses top 10 finish

New Zealand’s Lydia Ko couldn’t get things going and missed out on a top 10 finish after shooting an even par 71 in the final round of the LPGA Classic in Michigan.

Ko mixed three birdies with three bogeys to finish on 279 and a share of 12th at the Blythefield Country Club in Grand Rapids yesterday.

Starting the final round eight shots behind the leaders, Ko failed to make up ground with birdies on the second and seventh countered by bogeys on the third and fifth. An early back nine birdie was offset by a dropped shot on the par four 15th.

South Korea’s Mirim Lee and Inbee Park finished level on 270, 14-under par after 72 holes, with Lee claiming the title with a birdie three on the second playoff hole.

Lee started the final round one shot behind Park, but drew level with a two-under 69 while Park carded a 70.

One shot back was Norway’s Suzann Petersen who closed with a 69, while Japan’s Haru Nomura finished three shots adrift in fourth spot on 274 after a closing round 68.

Waikato professional Steve Alker couldn’t make any headway in his final round on the Web.com Tour’s Price Cutter Charity Championships at Springfield, Missouri.

Alker started the final round three shots behind the joint leaders Australian Cameron Percy, Dane Sebastian Cappelen and American Martin Piller, but a oneunder par 71 saw him finish in a share of 26th on 274.

Alker’s final round included just two birdies, countered by one bogey and a string of pars.

Percy claimed the title with a final round, five-under par 67 to finish on 267.

Four Americans tied for second on 268 – Brandt Jobe, Zac Blair, Michael Kim and Carlos Sainz Jr.

The low score in the fourth round was a 64 by American Justin Thomas who shot eight birdies in a blemish-free round to jump to a share of sixth with two others on 269.