Lydia Ko beats Morgan Pressel in play-off

Lydia Ko made it back-to-back Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic titles, winning a play-off over Morgan Pressel on Sunday.

Ko (two-under 70) and Pressel (72) finished level at eight under par overall at the Lake Merced Golf Club in California, and after sharing a hug prior to the play-off, it was the world number one who eventually claimed the $300,000 winners' cheque.

On the first play-off hole, Pressel left herself with the more gettable birdie putt on the par-five 18th only for it to stay right, as they both made par.

Ko had the shorter of the birdie putts when they repeated the hole, but Pressel's approach was also handy - only for the American to put her putt left.

The New Zealander, who only turned 18 on Friday, pounced - sinking her birdie into the middle of the cup to successfully defend what was her first LPGA Tour title as a pro 12 months earlier.

It was Ko's fifth LPGA win as a pro, and seventh overall.

Earlier, overnight leader Brooke Henderson missed a birdie putt which would have put her into a play-off, as Pressel went on to miss her own birdie putt for victory in regulation holes.

Henderson (74) blew her chance for a maiden LPGA Tour victory, but only finished one shot off the play-off duo in outright third - and also produced something for the highlights reel in her two-over final round.

The Canadian holed out from a greenside bunker on the par-five 14th - a shot which took her to eight under - but she could not hold on thereafter.

Ko birdied 18 to get to eight under, and Pressel's miss on the 72nd hole took the pair to extras.