New Zealand’s Ko claims women’s golf gold

New Zealand’s Lydia Ko finished two shots clear on 10 under as she took Olympic gold in the women’s golf at Le Golf National.

Ko, 27, carded a one-under 71 in her final round, with Germany’s Esther Henseleit taking silver at eight under overall and China’s Lin Xiyu collecting bronze, a further stroke adrift.

Former world number one Ko’s triumph completes her medal set, after taking silver in Rio in 2016 and bronze in Tokyo three years ago, and qualifies her for the Ladies Professional Golf Association Hall of Fame.

Great Britain’s Charley Hull finished one over after an impressive final round to finish in a tie for 27th, while her team-mate Georgia Hall was in a tie for 36th.

Ireland’s Stephanie Meadow and Leona Maguire were 39th and 59th respectively.

Two-time major champion Ko started her final round with a share of the overnight lead with Morgane Metraux.

But dropped shots on the first two holes plus a triple-bogey seven on the fifth meant the Swiss golfer slipped down the leaderboard before she eventually signed for a seven-over 79 – leaving herself in a tie for 18th.

American Rose Zhang also struggled in the last group and was four over par on the front nine, to end up in a tie for eighth.

And Ko, the only player not to drop away badly from the last three groups, was able to capitalise fully despite seeing a five-shot lead reduced dramatically on the back nine after finding water on the 13th, on the way to a double bogey of her own.

There were also nervous par putts on the 15th and 16th greens but she secured gold in style with a birdie on the par-five 18th hole.