Kiwi Lydia Ko has lost a fourway playoff for victory at the Pelican Women's Championship in Florida.
Sitting three shots off the lead after three rounds, Ko carded a four-under-par 66 on the final day, but watched American leaders Nelly Korda and Lexi Thompson self-destruct over the final two holes of regulation to set up extra holes for the title.
World No.1 Korda inexplicably triple-bogeyed the par-four 17th hole and needed birdy on the last to scramble into the playoff, while Thompson bogeyed the final two holes, missing regulation putts, as her chances disintegrated.
Korean Sei Young Kim birdied the 18th to join the foursome, but on the payoff hole, she and Ko both pulled their second shots wide of the green. Korda and Thompson both found the green, with the former holing her birdie putt for victory.
After capturing her sixth European Tour title in Saudi Arabia last week, Ko produced another consistent performance, compiling three bogey-free rounds at Belleair, with just two blemishes on the second day.
She now sits in the boxseat for the end-of-season Vare Trophy for lowest average score. Ko is currently fourth in the standings, behind Korda, and Koreans Jin Young Ko and Inbee Park, but none of them can log the required 70 rounds minimum to claim the prize.
Ko can achieve that requirement at next weekend's Tour Championship at Naples, Florida.
