Ko battles into US amateur semi-finals

NZ Newswire Updated August 11, 2012, 12:04 pm

New Zealand golfer Lydia Ko has qualified for the semi-finals at the US amateur women's championship in Ohio.

The world No.1 ranked amateur notched her fourth match play win at The Country Club course in Cleveland by beating South African Paula Reto 3 and 1 in a tight quarter-final on Friday (NZT).

It has set up a semi-final against Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand, who was far more comfortable in her 5 and 4 defeat of American Erynne Lee.

Korean-born Ko hoped her play would improve after failing to win any of her matches convincingly.

"Today was not my best," the 15-year-old told journalists.

"I didn't hit it as close to the hole, but I shot two-under par, so it shows something was pretty good. We both could have played better but, in the end, in match play, it doesn't matter."

If successful on Sunday (NZT), Ko will contest a 36-hole final against the winner of the other semi-final between Canada's Nicole Zhang and American Jaye Marie Green.

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