U.S. Women's Amateur Winner Is Thinking About Going To College Someday

Beth Ann Baldry on Lydia Ko, 15 years old, winning the U.S. Women's Amateur.

Not so fast, Ko said. The 112th U.S. Women’s Amateur champion wants to go to college. Her “role models” are Michelle Wie and Lexi Thompson (a subtle reminder that she’s 15), but she doesn’t want to follow their career paths. Ko wants to play college golf.

“There are so many people in New Zealand that go to college overseas,” Ko said, “and I think that kind of inspired me.”

Last year Ko visited Stanford, but the academic regimen might prove too touch. She’s rethinking her options. Ko misses so much school in New Zealand that even when she’s in class the teacher sometimes marks her absent out of habit.